Reaping the fruits of good health, five servings a day

“Fruits and vegetables are good for health,” says everyone from parents to physicians. And this is not without precedent. Fruits and vegetables contain much-needed vitamins and minerals that cannot readily be obtained elsewhere. Moreover, scientists have discovered that fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and other chemicals that help prevent many diseases.

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To reap the full benefits of fruits and vegetables, people in general must eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. A serving usually consists of a half cup of cooked vegetables or fresh fruits (about the equivalent size of a medium-sized fruit); this can also be matched by a 1/4 cup of dried fruits or a 3/4 cup of fruit juice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a calculator to help precisely determine the serving amounts a person needs based on individual factors.

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Fruits and vegetables can be incorporated into meals or eaten whole. The former is a practical application to add variety into one’s diet by making delicious meals incorporating healthy ingredients. Eating fruits and vegetables is also a good way of managing one’s weight while adding flavor and volume to a meal through creating lower calorie versions of regular dishes.

Fruits and vegetables are an important aspect of a person’s diet and can have a positive effect on the person’s overall health and wellness. Eating them frequently can reduce the risks of many diseases and provide the body with a rich source of rejuvenating nutrients.

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More on health and wellness can be found at Dr. Rachna Mehra’s website.