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