| Dietary experts recommend that every person | | | | Men and women alike should always strive to eat a |
| should eat at least five servings of fruits and | | | | healthy diet, but women have an extra incentive to |
| vegetables every day. The importance of fruits and | | | | get all the nutrition they need. Proper nutrition is |
| vegetables to a healthy diet has been known for | | | | essential to a healthy pregnancy, and some of the |
| quite some time, but studies have shown that very | | | | baby's biggest nutritional needs happen before the |
| few people eat the amount of fruits and vegetables | | | | pregnancy is discovered. Folic acid is perhaps the best |
| recommended for a healthy diet. | | | | known essential nutrient for pregnant women. Folic |
| That's a shame, since eating a sufficient number of | | | | acid has been proven effective at preventing a |
| fruits and vegetables just may be the single most | | | | variety of birth defects, including Spina Bifida. Good |
| effective thing you can do to improve your overall | | | | dietary sources of folic acid include Brussels sprouts, |
| health. The five a day approach to healthy eating | | | | broccoli, spinach and oranges. In addition, due to its |
| may be the single most important strategy you can | | | | importance to women of child bearing years, many |
| adopt for a healthier lifestyle. | | | | common foods such as cereals and breads, are |
| The many health benefits of eating fruits and | | | | supplemented with folic acid. |
| vegetables have been established for quite some | | | | In addition to their importance as source of vitamins |
| time now. Study after study has shown that a diet | | | | and minerals, fruits and vegetables also provide |
| rich in fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of certain | | | | essential dietary fiber. Adequate fiber in the diet is |
| cancers, heart disease and other chronic diseases and | | | | important in preventing heart disease and some kinds |
| conditions. Some studies have suggested that as | | | | of cancer. |
| many as 35% of cancer deaths can be attributed to | | | | Another great feature of fruits and vegetables, |
| diet, and that diets high in fats and low in fruits and | | | | especially to those watching their weight, is the high |
| vegetables contributes to unnecessary cancer deaths. | | | | nutrition, low fat, low calorie nature of these foods. |
| Fruits and vegetables have a lot of advantages | | | | Fruits and vegetables contain very low levels of fats, |
| besides just their nutritional importance. For one thing, | | | | and a diet low in fat can be quite effective for long |
| they taste great and add a great deal of variety to | | | | term weight loss. In addition, fruits and vegetables |
| everyday meals. Fruits and vegetables come in such | | | | contain no cholesterol, and they are lower in calories |
| a wide variety of colors, textures and flavors that | | | | than many other types of foods. |
| they can be used in virtually every meal. Those | | | | With all these things going for them, it is no wonder |
| seeking to maximize their consumption of fruits and | | | | so many dietary experts recommend eating a diet |
| vegetables should get into the habit of using fruits in | | | | rich in fruits and vegetables. Not only are fruits and |
| salads, as toppings and as garnishes. | | | | vegetables delicious and nutritious, but they can be |
| In addition to their great taste, fruits and vegetables | | | | quite inexpensive as well. Buying fruits and vegetables |
| are packed full of many essential vitamins and | | | | that are locally grown, and that are in season, is |
| minerals, including many micronutrients that are not | | | | usually the most cost effective way to get the |
| included in packaged vitamin supplements. For | | | | freshest fruits and veggies at the lowest possible |
| instance, foods like butternut squash, pumpkins, | | | | cost. |
| carrots, mangoes, peaches, pawpaws and green | | | | This buying strategy also helps to ensure a steady |
| leafy vegetables are rich in beta carotene. Beta | | | | stream of new fruits and vegetables every month, |
| carotene is vital for healthy skin and eyes. | | | | as some go out of season while others are just |
| In addition, most varieties of fruits and vegetables | | | | coming in. Trying a variety of different fruits and |
| contain vitamin C, another important vitamin and a | | | | vegetables, including some you may not be familiar |
| strong antioxidant. Good sources of vitamin C include | | | | with, is also a great way to create exciting new |
| Brussels sprouts, citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, | | | | dishes and prevent yourself from becoming bored |
| nectarines and kiwi fruit. Many fruits and vegetables, | | | | with the same old diet. Whether your goal is to lose |
| including spinach, broccoli and avocadoes, are also | | | | weight or just increase your level of fitness, it is hard |
| good sources of vitamin E, another excellent | | | | to go wrong with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. |
| antioxidant. | | | | |