Why Is It Important to Eat Fruits & Vegetables?

With health conditions and deadly diseases in the news every day, it can be overwhelming to decide how to best keep your body in top health. Fruits and vegetables can help prevent many of the most common health problems; these foods are packed with the nutrients our bodies need to function properly. Plus, their delicious flavor, low cost and wide availability mean there's no reason to not make fruits and vegetables a part of every day.

Cancer and Heart Disease Prevention

Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidants, substances that can help prevent free radicals from damaging the body's cells and in turn can slow or even prevent certain types of cancer. The bright colors of fruit and vegetables can indicate high levels of antioxidants, so consuming a variety of different-colored produce every day is a great strategy to ensure you're consuming many types of antioxidants. Many fruits and vegetables are also high in calcium, a nutrient that may reduce your risk of colon cancer. Fruits and vegetables, with their high fiber content, can also help fight off deadly cardiovascular disease and heart conditions. Dietary fiber can lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure when eaten instead of high-fat, high-sodium foods.

Weight Management

Flavorful produce also plays an important role in helping manage your weight. While fruits and vegetables may not work like magic to help you drop pounds, they are low in calories and fat and high in fiber and flavor. Adding produce to your meals and snacks will leave you both full and satisfied on few calories, meaning you won't be left feeling hungry or deprived, which can lead to overeating.

Age-Related Disease Protection

Fruits and vegetables have even been implicated in the prevention of certain age-related diseases. Antioxidants can help minimize free radical damage that leads to cataracts and macular-degeneration, two common eye diseases that cause serious vision problems. These antioxidants, as well as the cholesterol-lowering powers of vegetables and fruits, may also protect your brain from diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia.

Premature Aging

The same antioxidants that give fruits and vegetables their cancer-fighting properties can also help prevent premature aging. Antioxidants can help the skin fight damage from the sun and other environmental factors, leading to a reduction in premature wrinkles.

Foods Over Supplements

It may seem like the easiest way to reap these health benefits is to simply take antioxidant pills and supplements. But food sources such as vegetables and fruits are the best way to go. Food sources of antioxidants produce better results than supplement sources, and some supplements may actually do more harm than good.

References

• National Institutes of Health
• American Cancer Society
• American Heart Association

Resources

• American Cancer Society
• National Institutes of Health Medline Plus