Spicy, crunchy Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea) are beneficial in improving and protecting memory and concentration.

They’re packed with the amino acid tyrosine, and are an excellent source of pro-vitamin A.

For Smokers
If you or someone you love is a smoker, or if you are frequently exposed to secondhand smoke, then making vitamin A-rich foods, such as mustard greens, part of your healthy way of eating may save your life.

While studying the relationship between vitamin A, lung inflammation, and emphysema, Richard Baybutt, associate professor of nutrition at Kansas State University, made a surprising discovery: a common carcinogen in cigarette smoke, benzo(a)pyrene, induces vitamin A deficiency.

Baybutt’s earlier research had shown that laboratory animals fed a vitamin A-deficient diet developed emphysema.

His latest animal studies indicate that not only does the benzo(a)pyrene in cigarette smoke cause vitamin A deficiency, but that a diet rich in vitamin A can help counter this effect, thus greatly reducing emphysema.

Serving Suggestion

What you need

• 1 bunch mustard greens
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• zest from 2 lemons(you can freeze the juice to use later)
• 3 T olive oil
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

What you do

• Wash greens several times
• Slice crosswise into 1 inch wide ribbons, discarding stems
• Heat olive oil in large frying pan, add garlic and lemon zest and saute 1 minute
• Add greens and saute about 5 minutes
• Serve tossed with cheese

Tags: greens