Fruits and vegetables are universally promoted as healthy. Experts have suggested you try to make one-half of your plate purely fruits and vegetables daily. Fruits and vegetables include a diverse group of plant foods that vary greatly in content of energy and nutrients.
Eating fruits and vegetables provides health benefits – people who eat more fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Fruits and Vegetables provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body.
Nutrients
- Most vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories. None have cholesterol. (Sauces or seasonings may add fat, calories, and/or cholesterol.)
- Vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including potassium, dietary fiber, folate (folic acid), vitamin A, and vitamin C.
- Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain healthy blood pressure. Vegetable sources of potassium include sweet potatoes, white potatoes, white beans, tomato products (paste, sauce, and juice), beet greens, soybeans, lima beans, spinach, lentils, and kidney beans.
- Dietary fiber from vegetables, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. Fiber is important for proper bowel function. It helps reduce constipation and diverticulosis. Fiber-containing foods such as vegetables help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories.
- Folate (folic acid) helps the body form red blood cells. Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant should consume adequate folate from foods, and in addition 400 mcg of synthetic folic acid from fortified foods or supplements. This reduces the risk of neural tube defects, spina bifida, and anencephaly during fetal development.
- Vitamin A keeps eyes and skin healthy and helps to protect against infections.
- Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps teeth and gums healthy. Vitamin C aids in iron absorption.
Health benefits
- Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.
- Eating a diet rich in some vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may protect against certain types of cancers.
- Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as some vegetables and fruits, may reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
- Eating vegetables and fruits rich in potassium as part of an overall healthy diet may lower blood pressure, and may also reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and help to decrease bone loss.
- Eating foods such as vegetables that are lower in calories per cup instead of some other higher-calorie food may be useful in helping to lower calorie intake.
TOP 11 ‘Funny but real’ Reasons to eat MORE Fruits & Vegetables every day!
- Vitamins & minerals:-Fruits and vegetables are SO rich in Vitamins and minerals they help you feel healthy, look healthy and stay energized most of the time. This is a great PLUS!
- Low in Calories:– Fruits and vegetables are naturally low in calories.
- Variety:– Fruits & varieties are available in an almost endless variety which gives you this feeling of always wanting to try something new.
- Fiber:– Fruits & vegetables contain that much needed fiber needed to keep your digestive system up and running optimally.
- Delicious & Tasty:-Fruits & vegetables are so tasty, delicious and nutritious…they keep you crunching and munching.
- Quick natural Snack:– They are nature’s treat and they are easy to grab for a snack.
- Fun to eat:– Some you peel, some you squeeze, others you just pluck…gives it all the fun and excitement to eat.
- Convenience:-Fruits & vegetables remain nutritious in any form. Fresh, frozen, dried or canned…you can call them ready when you are!
- Reduce exposure to diseases:– Eating plenty of fruits & vegetables helps reduce or prevent the risks of many diseases like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancers and disorders.
- Color and texture:– Fruits & vegetables help “spice” up your table by adding color and texture to your plate…this creates an appeal.
- Relatively cheap:– Fruits & vegetables are most times cheaper than we think. They cost a lot less than our everyday meal and they tend not to put a hole in our pockets.
So, perhaps the next time you walk into that Favorite restaurant or drive past that Supermarket you usually order your groceries from you might want to ask yourself this Question……
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