Studies have shown that those who eat plenty of fruit and vegetables are less likely to develop health problems such as coronary heart disease and some cancers. Your five a day quota is important as it helps to ensure you’re getting a varied selection of produce, as well as making sure you’re getting enough each day. Growing your own fruit and veg is far easier than you may think, and you can even do it if you don’t have a garden. In addition to the health-boosting end result, gardening itself is a great form of physical activity and can help lower stress levels and improve your mental health.
If you have a garden, you can set aside some space in your garden for foods such as courgettes, tomatoes and leeks. If you don’t, you can grow some foods in containers or window boxes or, alternatively, you can find out about community garden schemes in your area where you can share plots of land with your neighbours. Whichever way you decide to grow, you’ll find that the freshness and quality of the produce far outweighs anything you could buy – it’ll save you money, provide a great family activity and boost your health and vitality all at the same time.