| 
• 
Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables?
When I ask people this question, usually without hesitation, their answer is “no.” So the question becomes, why aren’t Americans getting the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables for the day?
Many factors may play a role, like accessibility and cost, but the bottom line is most people are not making the conscious effort to choose to include these foods as part of their diet. Let’s face it; most individuals are not packing fruits or vegetables in their lunches or including fruits and vegetables in their diet even when they are at home.
Most restaurants do not have a huge array of fruits and vegetables to choose from, and if they do it is usually vegetables that are loaded with cheese and butter. Many grocery store carts lack fruits and vegetables. A lot of people struggle with society’s fast pace, and forget to pause and really think about what they may be doing to their body. Does it really take more effort to drive to a grocery store than it does to drive to a fast food restaurant for a “snack?”
So what are the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables? Eating fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. It may also decrease the risk of type 2 Diabetes, kidney stones, bone loss, coronary heart disease, and certain types of cancer.
The antioxidants fruits and vegetables contain also have great health benefits for athletes; they fight free radicals. Free radicals may damage your body and leave it vulnerable to things such as degenerative diseases such as arthritis. Intense exercise, especially eccentric exercise, such as putting down a heavy weight or running downhill, may cause an increase in free radicals to the body. Rise in body temperature and increase in respiration may also increase free radicals. By no means do I want you to think exercise is bad after reading this, because exercise also induces the production of enzymes that fight free radicals. Exercise, in combination with adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables, will fight off free radicals, so fruits and vegetables should be included in every athlete’s diet for the reasons mentioned.
So how much do you need to eat in order to get an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet? The amount you need depends on your sex, age, and level of physical activity. Visiting.mypyramid.gov will help you to answer how much you need in a day. Another great Web site to visit is fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov. This Web site will give you information on buying fruits and vegetables on a budget and will provide viewers with free recipes.
September is National Fruits and Veggies-More Matters® Month. What a perfect time to start consciously making the choice to get the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. Although fresh is best, buying fruits that are canned in 100 percent fruit juice and canned vegetables with no added salt are great alternatives if you are worried about foods spoiling before consumption. Frozen vegetables are also a great choice.
If you are interested in learning more about nutrition, please attend the Semper Fit Health Promotion Education Workshop. This class is open to all Department of Defense identification card holders. Call 451-2865 for upcoming workshop dates and to register for the class. Limited seats are available.
