June is Fresh Fruit and Vegetable month. The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 recommendations support fruits and vegetables as foods that should be eaten most often. And for most Americans, this means more than doubling the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat daily. Only 6% of Americans eat their recommended veggies each day. The average American eats only 43% of the recommended fruit and only 57% of the recommended vegetables each day.
3 Reasons Support Why Eating MORE Fruits & Veggies Matters …
- Fruits and vegetables are associated with reduced risk of many chronic diseases.
- Fruits and vegetables are relatively low in calories which can replace high calorie foods that aid in weight gain.
- Fruits and vegetables are major contributors of a number of nutrients that are under consumed in the U.S.—vitamins A, C and K, potassium, fiber and magnesium.
Key Nutrients in Fruits & Vegetables
- Calcium: Calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth. It is also needed for normal functioning of muscles, nerves and some glands.
- Fiber: Diets rich in dietary fiber have been shown to have a number of beneficial effects, including decreased risk of coronary heart disease.
- Folate: Healthful diets with adequate folate may reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord defect.
- Iron: Needed for healthy blood and normal functioning of all cells.
- Magnesium: Magnesium is necessary for healthy bones and is involved with more than 300 enzymes in your body! Inadequate levels may result in muscle cramps and high blood pressure.
- Potassium: Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain a healthy blood pressure.
- Sodium: Needed for normal cell function throughout the body. Most diets contain too much sodium which is associated with high blood pressure.
- Vitamin A: Keeps eyes and skin healthy and helps protect against infections.
- Vitamin C: Helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps teeth and gums healthy.
