Welcome to the FINAL Day of the Fruit and Veggie Challenge!
Hopefully this week has left you feeling better than ever. :-) In case you don't "feel it" just yet, here are the benefits your body is getting:
A diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables contributes to a healthy body and healthy weight. Fruits and vegetables contain unique compounds that help ward off chronic disease. Fresh produce can also provide you with energy to fuel your days without saturated fats, sodium, added sugars or trans fats.
The American Heart Association recommends consuming at least 4½ cups of fruits and vegetables daily. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, MyPyramid recommends even more as a minimum, with 1½ cups of fruit and 2½ cups of vegetables daily. Just 11 percent of Americans consume two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily, reports "Scientific American" in a March 19, 2007, issue.
The USDA reports that a healthy diet that includes ample amounts of fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk for developing stroke, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. The potassium found in fruits and vegetables can offset bone loss and prevent the development of kidney stones. Fruits and vegetables contain compounds in unique ratios, such as antioxidants, sterols, phytochemicals, flavonoids and lignans, that cannot be duplicated in supplements.
Most fruits and vegetables are low in calories and fat. Snacking on watery, fibrous vegetables instead of more calorie-dense foods such as pretzels, chips or candy can help you keep your calorie intake under control and prevent weight gain. Fruits satisfy a sweet tooth and offers more nutrients and fewer calories and less fat than most desserts such as cakes, cookies or ice cream.
Fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of fiber. The American Dietetic Association, or ADA, recommends Americans consume at least 25 g of fiber daily if you are a woman younger than 50 years of age and 38 g daily if you are a man younger than 50 years of age. Your needs are lower, 21 g for women and 30 g of men, after 50 years of age. Fiber is one of the elements in fruits and vegetables that helps to fight heart disease and diabetes. In addition, fiber keeps your digestive tract running smoothly. The ADA says just 2 cups of fruit and 2½ cups of vegetables daily help you meet your fiber requirements.
Most fruits and vegetables are low in calories and fat. Snacking on watery, fibrous vegetables instead of more calorie-dense foods such as pretzels, chips or candy can help you keep your calorie intake under control and prevent weight gain. Fruits satisfy a sweet tooth and offers more nutrients and fewer calories and less fat than most desserts such as cakes, cookies or ice cream.
Fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of fiber. The American Dietetic Association, or ADA, recommends Americans consume at least 25 g of fiber daily if you are a woman younger than 50 years of age and 38 g daily if you are a man younger than 50 years of age. Your needs are lower, 21 g for women and 30 g of men, after 50 years of age. Fiber is one of the elements in fruits and vegetables that helps to fight heart disease and diabetes. In addition, fiber keeps your digestive tract running smoothly. The ADA says just 2 cups of fruit and 2½ cups of vegetables daily help you meet your fiber requirements.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/321669-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-eating-more-fruits-vegetables/#ixzz28Leof7ct
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