Dietary
experts recommend that every person should eat at least five servings
of fruits and vegetables every day. The importance of fruits and
vegetables to a healthy diet has been known for quite some time, but
studies have shown that very few people eat the amount of fruits and
vegetables recommended for a healthy diet.
That’s
a shame, since eating a sufficient number of fruits and vegetables
just may be the single most effective thing you can do to improve
your overall health. The five a day approach to healthy eating may
be the single most important strategy you can adopt for a healthier
lifestyle.
The
many health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables have been
established for quite some time now. Study after study has shown
that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of certain
cancers, heart disease and other chronic diseases and conditions.
Some studies have suggested that as many as 35% of cancer deaths can
be attributed to diet, and that diets high in fats and low in fruits
and vegetables contributes to unnecessary cancer deaths.
Fruits
and 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.
In
addition to their great taste, fruits and vegetables are packed full
of many essential vitamins and minerals, including many
micronutrients that are not included in packaged vitamin supplements.
For instance, foods like butternut squash, pumpkins, carrots,
mangoes, peaches, pawpaws and green leafy vegetables are rich in beta
carotene. Beta carotene is vital for healthy skin and eyes.
In
addition, most varieties of fruits and vegetables contain natural vitamin C,
another important vitamin and a strong antioxidant. Good sources of
vitamin C include Brussels sprouts, citrus fruits, strawberries,
broccoli, nectarines and kiwi fruit. Many fruits and vegetables,
including spinach, broccoli and avocados, are also good sources of
natural vitamin E, another excellent antioxidant.
Men
and women alike should always strive to eat a healthy diet, but women
have an extra incentive to get all the nutrition they need. Proper
nutrition is essential to a healthy pregnancy, and some of the baby’s
biggest nutritional needs happen before the pregnancy is discovered.
Folic acid is perhaps the best known essential nutrient for pregnant
women. Folic acid has been proven effective at preventing a variety
of birth defects, including Spina Bifida. Good dietary sources of
folic acid include Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach and oranges.
In addition, due to its importance to women of child bearing years,
many common foods such as cereals and breads, are supplemented with
folic acid.
In
addition to their importance as source of vitamins and minerals,
fruits and vegetables also provide essential dietary fiber. Adequate
fiber in the diet is important in preventing heart disease and some
kinds of cancer, plus fiber helps you also with the stool.
Another
great feature of fruits and vegetables, especially to those watching
their weight, is the high nutrition, low fat, 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.
With
all these things going for them, it is no wonder so many dietary
experts recommend eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Not
only are fruits and vegetables delicious and nutritious, but they can
be quite inexpensive as well. Buying fruits and vegetables that are
locally grown, and that are in season, is usually the most cost
effective way to get the freshest fruits and veggies at the lowest
possible cost.
This
buying strategy also helps to ensure a steady stream of new fruits
and vegetables every month, as some go out of season while others are
just coming in. Trying a variety of different fruits and vegetables,
including some you may not be familiar with, is also a great way to
create exciting new dishes and prevent yourself from becoming bored
with the same old diet. Whether your goal is to lose weight or just
increase your level of fitness, it is hard to go wrong with a diet
rich in fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are the micro factories that turning elements into micro nutrients that our body can absorb also. That is why synthetic supplements ( like ascorbic acid as Vitamin-C ) are not much worth.
If you do not have the chance of getting fresh fruits and vegetables, then you shall supplement your food with natural supplement.
To your health,
International Health Tribune
No comments:
Post a Comment