Most people know that fruits and vegetables are good for you, but not everyone knows just how great they are! Fruits and vegetables contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. These plant foods are also low in calories but high in fiber, so they're filling without making you feel stuffed. Here are eight health benefits of fruits and vegetables that you may not have known about.
1. A great source of vitamins and minerals.
Fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins and minerals. They can help you get the nutrients your body needs to function properly. Vitamins and minerals are essential for good health and can be found in many fruits and vegetables.
2. They Improve Digestion
Did you know that the health benefits of vegetables include improved digestion? That's because they're high in fiber, which helps keep things moving along smoothly. Fiber also helps to bulk up stool, making it easier to pass. Plus, it keeps things hydrated, which is essential for preventing constipation.
3. They Build Your Immune System
One of the vegetables' most important health benefits is that they help build your immune system. Eating a diet rich in vegetables can help your body fight off infection and disease. Vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health. They also contain antioxidants that protect your cells from damage. Fruits and vegetables, especially those that are dark green, red, or purple, are filled with beta-carotene. Beta-carotene helps clean your lungs by thinning mucus and trapping harmful chemicals before they can enter your lungs.
4. Help With Blood Sugar Control
If you're struggling to control your blood sugar levels, adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet could help. The health benefits of vegetables and fruits include regulating blood sugar levels.
5. They Reduce Cancer Risk
Did you know that consuming fruits and vegetables can help reduce your risk of cancer? Studies have shown that people who eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of developing cancer. This is likely because fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which help protect cells from damage. These studies show how important it is to include plenty of plant-based foods in your diet for optimum health!
6. They Help Weight Loss
Even if you don't count calories, adding a serving or two of fresh produce to your daily diet will likely cause you to eat fewer calories over time. According to a 2013 study published in PLOS One, increasing fruit and vegetable intake was found to be associated with weight loss regardless of calorie counting or portion size. Additionally, it has been shown that people who consume more than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day are at lower risk for obesity than those who consume less than one per day. Fruits and veggies are also high in fiber which makes them feel filling without being calorically dense.
7. Good For Bones & Teeth
You've probably heard that calcium is good for your bones and teeth, but did you know that eating fruits and vegetables can help improve your bone health? Calcium isn't the only nutrient necessary for bone health – vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium are also essential. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of all these nutrients. For example, oranges are a great source of vitamin C, while potatoes are a good source of potassium.
8. An Anti-Inflammatory
Chronic inflammation is linked to various diseases, from heart disease to cancer. And while several medications can help to reduce inflammation, one of the best ways to do so is by incorporating more anti-inflammatory foods into your diet. Fruits and vegetables are a great place to start, as they're packed with nutrients that can help to fight inflammation. Arugula, spinach, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and carrots are just some of the veggies that contain alpha-lipoic acid.
Fruits high in vitamin C like oranges and lemons can also help combat inflammation since vitamin C helps produce nitric oxide in the body, which relaxes blood vessels.
Conclusion
Fruit and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and many other beneficial phytochemicals. Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help lower your risk for certain diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Eating more leafy greens can help reduce your risk for heart disease by helping lower harmful cholesterol levels while increasing good cholesterol levels.
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