“Eat Your Vegetables!” Mother Said…
Did she really have all the information we do today or was this just instinct? What we really should eat hasn’t changed that much for a very long time. It is what we DO eat that has created the current health crisis.
Not only have we gone away from real food and towards predominately eating processed food but the decrease in consumption of fruits and (especially) vegetables has increased tremendously!
More and more research is coming to the forefront about the importance of having fruits and vegetables as the major portion of our diets. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “At least one-third of annual cancer deaths in the United States are related to dietary factors. Increased fruit and vegetable consumption can reduce cancer risk, but less than one-third of U.S. adults eat the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables every day.” Yet, the idea is not new. Books have been written for years on this subject. Some say the concept goes back as far as Hippocrates!
So what exactly is the big deal? Why are these foods so much better for us?
To begin, fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
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Hi Julie - Thanks for this important information. Mom, and dad, indeed were right about the importance of eating vegetables and you've filled in a lot of the blanks on why it's so critical.
Thanks also for the link to the chart, which I've downloaded and will be using.
Take good care,
Pat
Hi Pat-
I am so impressed how much you keep up on all the latest articles... fantastic! Appreciate the comment and I do think you will find the chart really helpful.
Warmly,
Julie
There's no queston that eating more fruits and vegetables is critical. I spent the past 8 years in the Diabetes arena. It's so easy to look at people with diabetes (type 2) and blame their poor choices. In some cases, that's correct. We still need to better understand the interplay betwen genetics and diet.
As a cancer survivor, there's a lot of discussion about certain foods helping to prevent cancer while others may cause it. I've always loved blueberries, they are the SUPERFOOD. They didn't keep me from getting cancer (Hodgkins Lymphoma). Interestingly, though, when I was diagnosed and asked my Oncolgoists's office on how to change my diet, their only recommendation was to get more protein to help with my strength as chemo's effects got worse.
My kids have some kind of fruit or vegetable (always fresh or frozen) with each meal if I can help it. Both love broccoli, edamame, etc. Now to get my husband to.
Hi Anon - I like your sense of humor and had a chuckle imagining you trying to persuade your husband to eat his fruits and veggies. Thank you!
I've never been a big vegetable fan, but now that good nutrition is critical I'm learning ways to enjoy them every day. One thing that has helped me is a book titled "Eating Well Through Cancer" by Holly Clegg and Gerald Miletello, M.D. It has recipes and recommendations for both during and after treatment. Most of the recipes are really easy, and it gives me good ideas that go beyond just having a plain vegetable. There's also a nonprofit organization called the Wellness Community that offers nutrition and cooking information. Where I live, in Phoenix, they have a chef come in for a weekly two-hour class. You can look up their locations on their website which is at http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/
It sounds like you already incorporate good, healthy eating habits into your life, but I always like to have new ideas and variety, so I hope these suggestions are helpful.
Take good care,
Pat