The Health Benefits of Eating Fruits & Vegetables

Health Tip - Are You Eating Your Fruits and Vegetables?

All Fruits and Vegetables have different combinations of nutrients that helps promote better health.

                                                      
                                                           

Fruits and Vegetables are great sources of many vitamins, minerals and other natural substances that may help protect you from chronic diseases.

           

        

Eating a balance diet and making other lifestyle changes are key to maintaining your body's good health.

The Health Benefits of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables:



• Vitamin A - maintain healthy eyes
• Thiamine -  maintain healthy heart, muscles and nerves
• Riboflavin - maintain healthy red blood cells
• Vitamin B6 - helps build healthy blood cells
• Folate - helps lower a woman's risk of having a child with birth defects
• Vitamin C - helps the body heal cuts and wounds and maintain healthy gums
• Vitamin E - maintains healthy cells throughout your the body
• Vitamin K - helps heal cuts, acts as a glue to hold the surface of a cut 
• Calcium - helps build strong bones and healthy teeth
• Iron - helps red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body
• Magnesium - helps the body maintain a steady heartbeat and muscles working properly 
• Potassium - helps maintain healthy blood pressure
• Zinc - a mineral needed for healthy growth and development and strong immune system 
• Fiber - promotes good digestion and healthy heart
• Phytochemicals - helps prevent disease found in bright colored fruits & vegetables 
• Water - found in fruits and vegetables helps you feel full after a meal or snack. Also adds to the amount of water needed every day

         

5-7 servings a day is the goal

The Nutrient Benefits of Eating Fresh Fruits & Vegetables:

•  Fiber
• Navy beans, kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, lima beans, white beans, soy beans, split peas, chick peas, black eyed peas, lentils, artichokes
• Folate
• Black eyed peas, cooked spinach, great northern beans, asparagus
• Potassium
• Sweet potatoes, tomato paste, tomato puree, beet greens, white potatoes, white beans, lima beans, cooked greens, carrot juice, prune juice
• Vitamin A
• Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale, collard greens, winter squash, cantaloupe, red peppers, Chinese cabbage
• Vitamin C
• Red and green peppers, kiwi, strawberries, sweet potatoes, kale, cantaloupe, broccoli, pineapple, Brussels sprouts, oranges, mangoes, tomato juice, cauliflower

Remember!

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the priority but frozen is also a great source. 

Fruit & Vegetable Roll Call      

Fruits: apricots, apples, avocado, cranberries, cherries, banana, blackberries, blueberries,  dates, figs, currants, grapes (red, green, globe, black)grapefruits, peaches, plums, pears, oranges, pineapple, mango, coconut, nectarines,strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, limes, lemons, guava, tangerines, tomato, bitter melon, rhubarb, melon, cantaloupe, and many more....

                   

Vegetables: greens (spinach, kale, collards, etc.), sweet potato, yams, bell peppers (red, orange, green, yellow), celery, snap & snow peas, squash, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli,  parsnip, okra, spaghetti squash, turnip, swiss chard, Chinese cabbage, asparagus, butternut squash, leek, lima beans, white potatoes, beans, garlic, mushrooms, onions, pumpkin, radish, cucumber, carrot, cabbage, artichoke, eggplant, beet root, and many more....

Remember!

"Life belongs to God but health belongs to you.

The choice is yours?

Eat something RIGHT today

 

                                                       

For More Information go to http://www.webmd.com/, http://www.ask.com,www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov,www.whfoods.org,www.headtohealth.com/  or http://www.livestrong.com/

Live well

Doc V