Does eating an apple a day really keep the doctor away?
We know that fruit and vegetables are part of a healthy and balanced diet but how do they really improve our health?
- Lowering our blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Most fruits and vegetables reduce our risk of heart disease and stroke, however lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens have the biggest impact.
- Regulating bowel movements through fruits and vegetables containing indigestible fibre.
- Increasing weight loss by eating berries, apples, pears and cauliflower in replacement of refined carbohydrates.
- Reducing your risk of cancer, particularly by eating non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli.
How much fruit should we be eating?
You should aim to eat at least 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables every day.
It is also important to include a variety of different types and colours fruits and vegetables in your diet as each type can provide different benefits.
What different types of fruit and vegetables are there?
Fruits
Apples and pears, citrus fruits (such as oranges), berries (such as raspberries), tropical (such as bananas), melons (such as honeydew), stone fruits (such as peaches), tomatoes and avocados.
Vegetables
Leafy greens (such as spinach), root vegetables (such as potato), marrow (such as cucumber), cruciferous (such as cauliflower), edible plant stem (such as celery) and allium (such as onion and garlic).
Legumes
Soy products (such as tofu), legume flour (such as chickpea flour), dried and fresh beans and peas.
Find more of our health tips here.
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Sources:
Better Health Channel. 2022. Fruit and vegetables. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/fruit-and-vegetables#types-of-fruit
Harvard School of Public Health. Vegetables and fruits. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vegetables-and-fruits/