The Importance of Fruit and It’s Surprising Benefits

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), only one in 10 Americans eats enough fruits and vegetables as recommended by federal dietary guidelines. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing CDC-sponsored survey, has been compiling data on the healthy and unhealthy actions that average Americans take. In this article, we will analyze the results and show you simple ways to improve your diet.

Researchers have found that only 13 percent of U.S. residents consume the recommended one and a half to two daily fruit cups. As far as vegetables are concerned, the numbers are even worse.

Less than 9 percent of Americans eat the recommended amount of two to three cups of vegetables daily. Ranked by state, California had the highest consumption of vegetables at a paltry 13 percent, while Tennessee and Mississippi ranked among the lowest with 6.2 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively.

Joy Dubost, a registered dietitian in Washington, D.C., called the findings disappointing. “Part of the problem might be that people find it daunting to eat the daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. Dietitians and health experts need to do a better job of showing people how they can spread their intake across a full day of eating.”

“We are seeing now what is going to happen if this trend continues. Obesity is on the rise. The rates of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are on the rise,” says Jordana Turkel, a registered dietitian at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Eating a good amount of colorful fruits and vegetables is essential because they help lower a person’s risk of chronic illnesses, such as obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Fruits and vegetables are generally low in fat, which helps control cholesterol. They also contain a lot of fiber, which helps control spikes in blood sugar by slowing the digestive process.

Turkel explains that “people who want to boost their vegetable intake can make a salad part of their daily diet, even if it is served as a side dish at lunch or dinner. Fruit and vegetable smoothies are another option,”

Laetitia Moore, an epidemiologist and study author, adds, “It’s not that hard to eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. If you eat at least a banana and half an apple, you’re done for the day with fruit. For vegetables, if you have a side salad with lunch and a couple of vegetables with dinner, you’re done for the day.”

The first step to improving your diet is deciding to do so. To maintain good health, decrease your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and excessive weight gain, and commit to eating more fruits and vegetables.

• Even if you don’t cook, there are time-saving options available. Bagged salads, pre-cooked vegetables, and steam-in-the-bag frozen veggies are all good options.
• Avoid fast-food restaurants. Make it a point to have fruit on hand to snack on.
• Change your mindset: fresh fruits and vegetables are actually much less expensive than most meats, seafood, cheeses, and even some bread. Make sure vegetables take up the most space on your plate.
• Develop a new eating habit. Try to incorporate either some fruit or vegetables at every meal.

By following these simple steps, you will see results as long as you are consistent and stick to your new lifestyle for a long period of time.

We understand that it can be hard to stick to a strict regiment, especially when you live an active lifestyle with other things on your mind. One effective way to boost your healthy diet is to complement it with health supplements, such as LifePharm’s IMMUNE+++ and DIGESTIVE+++.

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