{"id":25879,"date":"2021-07-07T19:55:21","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T17:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ilovefruitandvegfromeurope.com\/fresh-fruit-and-vegetables-food-forhealth\/"},"modified":"2023-07-27T11:44:51","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T09:44:51","slug":"fresh-fruit-and-vegetables-food-forhealth","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ilovefruitandvegfromeurope.com\/en_ca\/fresh-fruit-and-vegetables-food-forhealth\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresh fruit and vegetables: food for health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Eating fruit and vegetables is one of the best things we can do for our health<\/strong>, as well for our enjoyment of life. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables contributes to well-being<\/em>, and helps prevent and combat numerous diseases and conditions<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The beneficial effects of eating abundant fruits and vegetables include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fruits and vegetables contain abundant water<\/strong>, to keep you hydrated; they are rich in proteins<\/strong> (depending on which fruit or vegetable) which help building tissue and their carbohydrates help generate energy<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their wide array of vitamins, minerals and fibres<\/em> help regulate the body\u2019s metabolism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, for maximum benefit, they should be eaten fresh<\/strong>: left in the fridge for too long, they lose some of their vital vitamins and nutrients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the most important vitamins found in fruits and vegetables are vitamin C<\/strong>, an antioxidant which protects human cells from the effects of free radicals, and vitamin A<\/strong>, a carotenoid that provides protection against environmental factors, such as smoke and air pollution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The minerals present in fruits and vegetables are: iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, copper, iodine, sodium and zinc<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fruit and Vegetable Fibres <\/strong>are very beneficial:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s recommended that you consume at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day<\/em>, the amount should be increased in the winter, when it\u2019s much more difficult to eat enough fresh fruit and vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many fruits and vegetables are particularly high in antioxidants<\/strong> whose function is to effectively fight free radicals so that they do not damage our cells. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These include apples, strawberries, apricots, kiwi, figs, pears, carrots, cabbage, beetroot, fennel, radishes, spinach, lettuce, aubergine, broccoli, courgettes and peppers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An easy, good way to get a wide array of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables is to simply eat the rainbow: include different colours of vegetables every day, or at least 3-4 times a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Each colour corresponds to particular micronutrients and protective substances such as vitamins C, A, E, minerals such as zinc, selenium and many others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Red <\/strong>indicates the presence of lycopene and anthocyanins, which help the natural protection of cells from free radicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yellow \/ orange<\/strong> is a source of carotenoids and flavonoids that help protect eyesight, can prevent cellular ageing and strengthen the immune response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Green<\/strong> indicates the presence of chlorophyll, magnesium, folic acid, carotenoids and polyphenols which help strengthen blood vessels, bones, teeth and can improve the functionality of the nervous system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Purple \/ blue<\/strong> indicates the presence of anthocyanins, potassium and magnesium which can fight capillary fragility and prevent atherosclerosis, helping to improve memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n White<\/strong> assures a supply of quercetin, sulphur compounds, flavonoids, potassium and selenium that can regulate cholesterol levels and maintain blood fluidity as well as have beneficial effects on bone tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vegetables are rich in fibre<\/em>, especially their peels, and so should always be prepared unpeeled; (in addition to fibre, the peel contains additional vitamin and mineral salts). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Eating fruit and vegetables is one of the best things we can do for our health, as well for our enjoyment of life. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables contributes to well-being, and helps prevent and combat numerous diseases and conditions. The beneficial effects of eating abundant fruits and vegetables include: Fruits and vegetables<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25880,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-25879","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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