Vegetables as a source of important nutrients and bioactive compounds: their human health benefits

Abstract

Malnutrition is a worst problem in under developing countries and it results because of improper or lack of nutrition. Every year many people die because of malnutrition in different countries. Vegetables are rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, oils, vitamins and minerals. About 200g (Per person/per day) of vegetables are recommended in daily diet. By taking recommended daily amount of vegetables we can reduce the problem of malnutrition. Vegetables besides being a source of important nutrients required to our body for proper functioning, provides many other health benefits by preventing or curing number of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, neurodegenerative, aging and cardio vascular diseases. It is considered that those people who make sure vegetables to be in their daily diet as an important part are less likely to be susceptible to many diseases. These properties are due to many bioactive compounds present in vegetables such as polyphenols, carotenoids, lycopene, tocopherols, flavanols and phytosterols. Popularity of these bioactive compounds of vegetables increased their use in many field such as food science, nutraceutical companies, agro– chemical companies, cosmetic etc. All of these fields are working to explore potentially active vegetable compounds and improving their application pathways. Our present manuscript is also about to address the maximum health benefits of vegetables for prevention of malnutrition and chronic diseases.