Are vegetables overrated?

[faroukfarouk]

I love them both, but they have to be cooked well. If you ate boiled brussels sprouts, I can see why you didn't like it. I think they are best cut in half and roasted with olive oil and some salt.

Same with rutabaga/swede. Roast it in the oven with some parsnips, potatoes and carrots, yum!

It's not just a matter of taste; but especially when one gets to a certain stage of life vegetables are part of one's long term health prospects.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

It's not just a matter of taste; but especially when one gets to a certain stage of life vegetables are part of one's long term health prospects.

I hope you don't mean survival in a (gasp) persistent 'vegetative' state.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I hope you don't mean survival in a (gasp) persistent 'vegetative' state.

Interesting play on the word 'vegetable'.

I was of course referring to the health benefits of the many vitamins in vegetables as we get older.

 

[381465]

Have you ever microwaved an ear of corn ? The shuck and silk comes right off and it is pretty good and quick .. Also love my tomatoes red ripe through and through too . I've seen the time in winter when I'd walk over a stack of T-bones to get to a couple good ripe tomato sandwiches ..

Corn. 4 minutes in husk. Cut the fat end, shake it out of the husk...right?
Leftovers receive wife's magic touch for fritters.

 

[Friend-of-Jesus]

Don't primates spend most of their waking hours looking for food, then sleeping the rest of the time? Gorillas have huge stomachs as they need huge amounts of nutrient poor food to survive.

Here you go. The biggest problems of our generation. 1) Lack of physical activity 2) Lack of sleep.

 

[blackribbon]

Essential vitamins are produced in the gut from a variety of foods that may or may not 'contain' those vitamins.

The gut does not make any vitamins. It simply processes and breaks down the food products eaten. Essential vitamins are those the body needs but does not produce itself. You have to get them from food sources. We get most of our essential vitamins from veggies.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

The gut does not make any vitamins.

Then why does science say it does?

 

[blackribbon]

Then why does science say it does?

Gut BACTERIA (external organism living in the gut) makes a few vitamins...the gut doesn't. However, the bacteria doesn't make all the vitamins a body needs to function. There is a reason why sailor got conditions like scruvy and rickets when they didn't have access to fresh veggies & fruit. In order for the gut or any other body tissue to function properly, they need to have nutrition which includes vitamins gotten from food substances.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Gut BACTERIA (external organism living in the gut) makes a few vitamins...the gut doesn't. However, the bacteria doesn't make all the vitamins a body needs to function. There is a reason why sailor got conditions like scruvy and rickets when they didn't have access to fresh veggies & fruit. In order for the gut or any other body tissue to function properly, they need to have nutrition which includes vitamins gotten from food substances.

Don't you mean 'internal' organisms?

So why don't Eskimos get scurvy? They eat almost no vitamin C foods.

Didn't I say "in the gut"?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

.

 

[blackribbon]

So why don't Eskimos get scurvy?

Didn't I say "in the gut"?

You said that essential vitamins are made in the gut...only partially true. Bacteria does not make all essential vitamins. You have to eat them.

As for the Eskimo diet, I am not an expert on their diet nor do I wish to be unless I happen to get an Eskimo patient in one of my beds who does not eat a modern diet. However, from what I can read pretty quickly, it appears that they weren't excessively healthy and old age was 50 to 60s...which is when most people with lifestyles with poor nutrition start showing up in the hospital with irreversible health issues related to diet. They did eat plants (fruits & veggies) during the season that they were available though.

The Eskimo Diet And Health: Just What Will This Meat-Centered Diet Do To Us?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

You said that essential vitamins are made in the gut...only partially true. Bacteria does not make all essential vitamins. You have to eat them.

As for the Eskimo diet, I am not an expert on their diet nor do I wish to be unless I happen to get an Eskimo patient in one of my beds who does not eat a modern diet. However, from what I can read pretty quickly, it appears that they weren't excessively healthy and old age was 50 to 60s...which is when most people with lifestyles with poor nutrition start showing up in the hospital with irreversible health issues related to diet. They did eat plants (fruits & veggies) during the season that they were available though.

The Eskimo Diet And Health: Just What Will This Meat-Centered Diet Do To Us?

This is a more comprehensive article on the subject.
The Straight Dope: Traditionally Eskimos ate only meat and fish. Why didn't they get scurvy?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

You said that essential vitamins are made in the gut...only partially true. Bacteria does not make all essential vitamins. You have to eat them.

That's what I said and it's entirely true, as I didn't say all essential vitamins are made in the gut.

This article states that many of the B vitamins are, including B12.

Soluble Vitamins Synthesized by Intestinal Bacteria

 

[blackribbon]

Don't eat veggies, if you don't want to but make sure you have good medical insurance because there is a good chance you will have plenty of chronic health issue when you get older. By then it is too late but like I said, you are free to live your own life.

 

[bhsmte]

Are vegetables overrated?

I found this immediately upon searching under this very title. I have believed for some time now that vegetables (and fruits) are vastly overrated as being necessary for good nutrition as they are pretty nutrient poor generally. I hardly eat any and to eat five servings per day is unthinkable.

I wanted to start this thread because some have argued (in another thread currently running) for the necessity of expensive fruits and vegetables in one's diet thus opposing my contention that a good diet is actually quite inexpensive.

The article mentions the USDA's "food pyramid" (which has been changed rather recently.????) which to me is just a means of promoting various agricultural enterprises, without regard to solid nutritional evidence that would justify them.

Many vegetables, contain a variety of essential vitamins and minerals, along with fiber. Those are all extremely important to nutritional health. Vegetables also tend to deliver the above, without a lot of calories, so are a good choice for the many, who are overweight and or obese.

 

[blackribbon]

They are also good for anyone who wants a health bowel as they get older...not ones that we cut parts out of, constantly fight constipation (hospitalization levels), have health sphincters to keep things in, and abdominal pain.....regardless if they are obese or not. .

 

[OldWiseGuy]

They are also good for anyone who wants a health bowel as they get older...not ones that we cut parts out of, constantly fight constipation (hospitalization levels), have health sphincters to keep things in, and abdominal pain.....regardless if they are obese or not. .

I'm 77, eat few vegetables, and have a very healthy bowel (of course I am anatomically different than other people).

 

[blackribbon]

I'm 77, eat few vegetables, and have a very healthy bowel (of course I am anatomically different than other people).

If you are 77 and don't like veggies and are basically healthy....then by all means eat what you want. That is exactly the advice I'd give as a nurse. I suspect that your mother fed you veggies when you were younger but maybe she didn't and you do have the constitution to not need the natural fiber.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

If you are 77 and don't like veggies and are basically healthy....then by all means eat what you want. That is exactly the advice I'd give as a nurse. I suspect that your mother fed you veggies when you were younger but maybe she didn't and you do have the constitution to not need the natural fiber.

I include fiber in my diet as it is vital, but it's mainly from whole grains, nuts, and fruits, not vegetables. Also I do like vegetables, I just don't eat much of them.

 

[sunshineforJesus]

I love veggies all except brussel sprouts.