The Healthy Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables

There are numerous  reasons for wanting to eat a healthy and balanced diet. The well-known ones are weight loss and all around general health, but the advantages to eating healthy go beyond that.

According to the Center for Disease Control, almost everyone needs to eat more fruits and vegetables. Research shows they are critical for promoting good health.

Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.

Substituting fruits and vegetables for higher-calorie foods can be part of a
weight loss strategy.

Those with busy lifestyles can benefit from food that's nutritious, yet easy to eat on-the-go, like fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of energy and give the body many nutrients you need to keep going.

Fruits and vegetables come in terrific colors and flavors, but their real beauty lies in what's inside. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of many vitamins, minerals and other natural substances that may help protect you from chronic diseases. 

To get a healthy variety, think color. Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients, like fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Some examples include green spinach, orange sweet potatoes, black beans, yellow corn, purple plums, red  watermelon, and white onions. For more variety, try new fruits and vegetables regularly.

Stay tuned for my next post to see even more benefits to eating healthy!!

Author: Pam McMillan