How to Benefit the Most From Fruits and Vegetables

No doubt you understand the importance of incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet. Unlike other foods, with fruits and vegetables, more is better! It's even recommended that everyone eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every single day.

But it is the rare person that actually follows these guidelines and that gets the recommended quantities of these nutrients in fruits and vegetables. This too is unfortunate because eating this amount of these items may be one of the best things you can do for your diet and your health overall.

What are the health benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables? Scientists and doctors have been touting those benefits for years, as a way to increase fitness and your levels of nutrition as well.

How to Benefit the Most From Fruits and Vegetables

Most believe that large amounts of fruits and vegetables can prevent certain diseases, including stroke, premature aging, heart disease, heart attack, and even cancer. It's believed that some 35% of cancers a person can get are related to poor diet choices, and those diets that contain too much fat and not enough fruits and vegetables are thought to be particular culprits in this regard.

While fruits and vegetables can help your health, there is much more to them than that. They are delicious and there is also an endless variety from which to choose; this means taste, size, texture, and everything else. No matter your preference, you're sure to find something you love!

These items are also full of beneficial nutrients including antioxidants and many different vitamins, including A, C and E. Most believe that antioxidants protect the body from many different harmful elements including pollution in the environment, damaging rays from the sun, and so on.

There are many other important nutrients found in fruits and vegetables including beta carotene; this is a substance found mostly in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables. Some that are particularly rich in beta carotene would include carrots, peaches, pumpkins, squash, and so on.

And consider the benefits of fruits and vegetables for unborn babies. Women who are considering getting pregnant or who may become pregnant should definitely consume fruits and vegetables, especially those that contain folic acid. It's believed that folic acid, or folate, can help to prevent certain birth defects. This include spina bifida and others. Of course unborn babies get their nutrition from a mother's body so she needs to have enough nutrition and healthy elements in her body even before she gets pregnant. Choose items like broccoli, spinach, and Brussels sprouts for folic acid.

How to Benefit the Most From Fruits and Vegetables

There are many good elements in fruits and vegetables, above and beyond those important vitamins and minerals. Fiber is another one. You must have enough fiber in your system to fight off heart disease and cancer, and to help your digestive system as well.

Another advantage to eating fruits and vegetables is that they are low in calories, especially when compared to the amount of nutrition you get for those calories. Today's supermarkets are saturated with foods that are high in fat and low in nutrition, except for the produce sections! And remember that fruits and vegetables have no cholesterol and also contain no fat!

So perhaps you now understand why fruits and vegetables are so important to your diet in order for it to be balanced and healthy. Remember too that they're often very inexpensive, an advantage for every family these days! You can also choose locally grown items for even more value and of course it helps to keep an eye on sales at your supermarket as well.