Once again the debate about our recommended intake of fruit and vegetables is on the agenda. New research from University College London and University of Liverpool is encouraging us to increase our intake of fruit and vegetables. 7 a day is being touted with suggestions that up to 10 will bring the most benefits.
Eating more fruit and vegetables is good for your health and decreases the risk of dying from a whole range of diseases including heart disease and cancer. The new UCL study reports that eating seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day reduces your risk of death at any point in time by 42% compared to eating less than one portion.
Ths new push (which is not yet endorsed by the government) follows the advice in the USA and Australia. Australia suggests 2+5 which equates to 2 portions of fruit and 5 of vegetables.
The UCL study took a swipe at fruit juice and canned and frozen fruit, revealing that fruit juice offered little benefit and that canned fruit and frozen fruit may increase death – but didn’t distinguish between the two forms. More research needs to be done on this.
What we know:
Fresh is best
Vegetables offer increased protection against disease
Limit fruit juice to one glass a day
It’s never too late to start
Eat a rainbow diet of different fruit and veg
Don’t over cook
So what are you waiting for – the evidence continues to support the benefits of fruit and vegetables. Eat a rainbow diet and it will not only improve your health and wellbeing, it can also benefit your skin too.
Read more here: How to feed your skin