Why You Should Eat Your Fruits and Veggies!
By Sara Butler
Dietary guidelines in the United States recommend fruit and vegetables as a part of a healthy diet. Big brother aside, you probably grew up with a mother who insisted you eat your vegetables, so this is a familiar concept. You probably hear it from your chiropractor, too. When you’re eating healthy, you may wonder why on earth fruits and vegetables are beneficial to your health. Here are just a few of the reasons your mom really knew what she was talking about.
Key Minerals and Vitamins
Vegetables and fruits are full of key minerals and vitamins your body needs to function at its very best. Magnesium, folate, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and potassium are just a few of the nutritional all-stars that star in fresh produce. These minerals and vitamins play a vital role in your continued good health; while it is true you can take a daily multivitamin, fruits and vegetables are still the best way to get them.
Full of Fiber
Fruits and vegetables contain something that can’t quite be found in as a delicious way other ways: fiber. Fiber helps you to feel full when you eat and also helps to keep your digestive system working well. It also promotes heart health. Forget bran muffins, because fruits and vegetables are a far tastier to get your daily fiber.
Antioxidants and Phytochemicals
If you want to get really technical about the nutrients in fruit and vegetables, then you need to know about antioxidants and phytochemicals. These are nutrients that help to reduce inflammation, lowering your risk of diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Antioxidants protect the cells in your body from damage over time, helping to slow down the aging process too. So, stay young with a healthy daily dose of fruit and veggies!
How to Eat Them
In order to get the most nutritional benefit from the fruits and vegetables you eat, you should select unprocessed, whole fruits and vegetables. If you can buy seasonal, local product, then you can score more nutritional points. Frozen fruits and vegetables are also good for you since they’re picked and flash frozen at the peak of freshness – and they’re often very affordable. Canned fruit and vegetables are also acceptable, just keep an eye on the salt and sugar content.
Don’t forget that eating the rainbow is a good rule of thumb. The more colors you can include, the best chance you have of getting all the nutrients your body needs.
Fruits and vegetables are important to your health, so eat up!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Katy, Tex.