Should you really strive to consume fruits and vegetables each day? The answer is yes: Eating more fruits and vegetables may reduce chances of death.
A new research study has found that eating two fruits and three vegetables a day may be enough to lower chances of death from heart disease, cancer, and lung illnesses – and both women and men were able to benefit. Eating two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables gave the most benefits; however, not all fruits and vegetables provide the same benefit. Starchy vegetables such as peas and corn, fruit juices and potatoes were not found to provide a reduced risk of death. The vegetables and fruits that gave the most benefits included leafy greens, such as spinach, lettuce and kale, fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C such as citrus fruits and berries, and foods high in beta carotene such as carrots and beets.
Thankfully, it’s farmer’s market season! Set yourself a goal to eat two fruits and three vegetables a day. Include them in your meals and snacks. The benefit of eating more of these foods is well documented, and they are important to keeping your heart and body healthy!
Happy Spring!
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Joanne M. Gallivan, M.S., R.D.N. is a registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She served as the Director of the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) in the Office of Communication and Public Liaison for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 1997-2016. Previously, Ms. Gallivan has served as project manager for NIDDK’s Weight-Control Information Network (WIN), a national source of information on weight control, obesity, and weight-related nutritional disorders for health professionals and the public; as Contract Manager for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s National Cholesterol Education Program and Obesity Education Initiative, and as Director of the Prince George’s County Health Department Nutrition Division located in Maryland.
Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic is a free clinic in Charleston, SC, that provides free medical care to eligible patients, just like any family practitioner or internist. The Free Clinic serves uninsured adults living at or below 299 % of the Federal poverty level who live or work on Johns, James, & Wadmalaw Island or Folly Beach, or serve the Hospitality Industry of Downtown Charleston. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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