You Should Start Eating Mustard Greens. Here's Why

Many of us grew up with traumatic food memories and can clearly remember having to force down over-boiled vegetables at the dinner table. One of the culprits that tended to make these memories that much more scarring came in the form of mustard greens. These tough, leafy greens have come full circle over time, and with a new generation of cooks discovering the vegetable's unique flavor and nutritional background, mustard greens have found their way back onto the dinner table in a much friendlier form.

According to Healthline, the benefits of indulging in the vegetable appear endless. A serving of the green gets packed with loads of antioxidants, vitamin K, and vitamin C, has been observed to potentially boost immunity, improve eye and heart health, and may even have cancer-fighting properties. While mustard greens need to undergo further studies in human clinical trials to really confirm their wide-ranging benefits, the presence of antioxidants and vitamins can help balance any diet and add a much needed health boost for anyone thinking about including them in their next meal. The only real question comes down to choosing how to prepare the greens in order to draw out the maximum amount of nutrition.

For anyone who wants to forgo the boiled-to-death greens of their childhood, scientific studies have provided some promising news. According to CNN, vitamins and other key nutrients leach into the water when vegetables get boiled, so avoid this preparation technique if you want to get the full health benefits of the greens. According to Healthline, sauteing the vegetable actually increases the levels of vitamins A and K, but brings down the vitamin C and E content compared to their raw form. The plant can be pickled to retain its high levels of antioxidants for longer periods of time. Regardless of how you like to eat your vegetables, you can count on mustard greens to supercharge your meal.

According to the Huffington Post, you can experience huge dietary benefits no matter how you like to prepare mustard greens, so the sky's the limit when it comes to finding new ways to incorporate it in your daily eating plan. When you can have access to a nutrient powerhouse like this vegetable, take the chance and try mustard greens again — your tastebuds and health will thank you.