Vegetables, Nutrients and Human Health: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Vegetables constitute a cornerstone of a balanced human diet, providing vital nutrients including dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and numerous bioactive phytochemicals that maintain physiological functions and prevent disease. Numerous cohort and clinical studies demonstrate that regular vegetable consumption lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and premature mortality.These benefits are largely attributed to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory actions of vegetable-derived compounds. This review summarizes the nutrient composition of vegetables, their mechanisms in disease prevention, and the implications for human health, supported by recent scientific evidence.