As everyone knows, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. But why are we told to eat five portions every day? A portion amounts to around 80g of fruit, vegetables or pulses, of which it is advised we eat a balanced variety in order to get all of the nutrients that we need.
There are a number of reasons why it is suggested that we eat our five a day. One such reason is that they are a good source of vitamins and minerals, in particular vitamin C, folate and potassium. They also provide a great source of dietary fibre, which is important for maintaining a healthy digestive and bowel system. It has been proven that a diet rich in fibre can help to reduce your risk of bowel cancer. Fruit and vegetables have also been proven to reduce the risk of other health problems, namely heart disease, stroke and a variety of cancers. They are a great addition to any diet as they are usually low in fat and calories, depending on how you prepare them, which can be beneficial to maintaining a healthy weight.
The five a day system was created based on the studies by the World Health Organisation, who suggested that a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables was vital to help lower the risk of chronic health problems and ailments, such as obesity, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Almost all fruit and vegetables count towards the five a day quota, with the exception of potatoes and cassava due to the large amounts of starch in them – it’s advised we eat a mix of fruit, vegetables and pulses in order to get a mix of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It is easy to add a mix of these to your meals each day, by eating fruit as a snack instead of crisps or by adding beans to soups, so that you can ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need for a healthy lifestyle.
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