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