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Everyone agrees on the importance
of eating more fresh fruits & vegetables, but not enough
people are following this important advice. Dietary experts
recommend that every person should eat at least five servings
of fresh fruits & vegetables every day. Increasing your
consumption of fruits and vegetables is one of the easiest
changes you can make to increase your level of health, lose
weight and gain fitness.
The latest food guidelines
recommend that adults eat from five to nine servings of fresh
fruit & vegetables every day. While that may seem like
a lot, it is an important goal to strive for, and a very reachable
one.
A serving of a fruit or vegetable
is equal to:
1. 1 medium sized vegetable
or fruit (such as an apple, orange or banana)
2. 2 small fruits (such as
kiwi fruit or plums)
3. ½ cup of fresh, frozen
or canned fruits or vegetables
4. ½ cup of 100% fruit juice
5. ¼ cup of dried fruit
6. 1 cup of green salad
Study after study has shown
that a diet rich in fresh fruit & vegetables lowers the
risk of certain cancers, heart disease and other chronic diseases
and conditions. One reason for the recommendation that everyone
increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables is that
many of these foods have been shown to have strong antioxidant
qualities.
Many fresh fruits & vegetables
have high amounts of many antioxidant vitamins, including
vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C. In addition to their importance
as source of vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables
also provide essential dietary fiber.
Many people do not realize,
that in addition to vitamin C, oranges, grapefruits and other
citrus fruits also contain significant amounts of fiber. Fiber
plays an important role in digestion, and it is thought to
have protective qualities against heart disease and some forms
of cancer. In addition, fiber is thought to have the ability
to lower high levels of cholesterol in the blood.
Another great feature of fresh
fruits & vegetables, especially to those watching their
weight, is the high nutrition, low fat, and low calorie nature
of these foods. Fruits and vegetables contain very low levels
of fats, and a diet low in fat can be quite effective for
long-term weight loss. In addition, fruits and vegetables
contain no cholesterol, and they are lower in calories than
many other types of foods.
Fresh fruits & vegetables
have a lot of advantages besides just their nutritional importance.
For one thing, they taste great and add a great deal of variety
to everyday meals. Fruits and vegetables come in such a wide
variety of colors, textures and flavors that they can be used
in virtually every meal. Those seeking to maximize their consumption
of fruits and vegetables should get into the habit of using
fruits in salads, as toppings and as garnishes.
No matter what your reason
for following a healthy diet, we believe you will find that
eating more fruits and vegetables is a delicious, as well
as a nutritious, way to get the vitamins and minerals you
need every day.
I hope that reading the above
information was both enjoyable and educational for you. When
word gets around about your command of healthy diet facts,
others who need to know about fresh fruits & vegetables
will start to actively seek you out.
| Authors Details: Nishanth Reddy Web
Site |
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