Science has demonstrated that in addition to the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) packed into veggies, there are also important plant chemicals (phytochemicals) that are essential for optimal physiological functioning.
Vegetables (and fruits) also provide an alkaline load to the blood. Since both proteins and grains present acid loads to the blood, it's important to balance these acids with alkaline-rich vegetables and fruits. Too much acid and not enough alkalinity means the loss of bone strength and muscle mass!
Here's a great way to ensure that you're getting enough vegetables: eat 2-3 servings (a serving of veggies is about 1/2 a cup) with every meal. Yes, that means you should be eating veggies every 2-4 hours. Follow this habit and you'll be getting 10-15 servings of cancer-fighting, free-radical destroying, acid-neutralizing, and micronutrient-rich power per day. MAKE IT A HABIT TODAY!