The Power of Eating Your Fresh Vegetables

Nature’s most powerful medicine, fruits and vegetables, are low in calories, high in complex carbohydrates, contain no cholesterol and almost no fat. They are rich sources of a variety of nutrients, including vitamins, trace minerals, and dietary fiber, and many other classes of antioxidants and phytochemicals. These nutrients may be your best weapon against age-related disease. A body of scientific research provides compelling evidence that a diet high in vegetables and fruits may reduce the risk of many diseases. Aim to include 5-10 servings of antioxidant rich vegetables and fruits each day by making bright color and dark green choices.

.

Heart Disease and Obesity

Obesity (being overweight) results from an imbalance between caloric intake and usage. The amount of energy absorbed exceeds that expended, the difference ends up as body fat. There are many contributing factors – diet is one of them as excessive calorie intake leads to weight gain. By the World Health Organization’s definition, adults are considered overweight if their body mass index (BMI) is 25-29.9, and obese if the BMI is 30 or more. BMI is a measure of a person’s body weight-to-height ratio. It’s calculated dividing a person’s body weight in kilograms by the square of his or her height in meters (kg/m2). It matters where your body stores its excess fat. People who carry most of their fat around their stomachs have a higher risk of having heart disease and diabetes than those who carry it around their hips.

Heart Disease and Cholesterol

Cardiovascular disease (heart disease) is a major killer in the United States. It is also a very costly disease in the USA, putting the great burden on our health care system.

“Aim to include 5-10 servings of antioxidant rich vegetables and fruits each day”

Diabetes:

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. If your body does not have insulin or cannot use it properly, the result is a high blood sugar (glucose) level.