An apple a day..we all know the saying.keeps the doctor
away. With more and more research to support the numerous
health benefits of eating fruits and veggies, let's take
a look at what makes these foods such nutritional powerhouses.
Firstly, whole fruits and veggies (not their juices) pack
in an average of 2-4 grams of dietary fiber per serving.
That means if you eat 6-8 servings per day (the minimum recommended
amount) you will take in about 15 -20 grams of fiber. That's
over half of your daily goal just in fruits and veggies.
Secondly, fruits and veggies provide high levels of vitamins
and minerals as well as powerful antioxidants that our bodies
need. And thirdly, compared to most other foods, fruits and
veggies tend to be lower in calories (with the exception
of avocado and dried fruits like raisins). This is good news
for those of us watching our waistlines. All fruits and veggies
are great, but aim for these top picks more often :
red grapes, apples, oranges, plums, kiwi, canteloupe, pears,
blueberries, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, onions, carrots
and sweet potato. With fall just around the corner, Valley
apples will be in season. Make sure to try the tasty apple
crisp recipe below.
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Fruit juice is commonly consumed
by adults and kids. We try to make the smart choice and go
for the real fruit juice, as opposed to the fruit drink, but
are we really better off? While it is true that pure orange
juice, pineapple juice and grapefruit juice provide several
vitamins and other nutrients, more popular juices such as apple
and grape are lagging far behind (there's a reason why manufacturers
have to ADD vitamin C). With juice, you get all of the sugar
calories from fruit in a much more concentrated form (average
120-160 calories per cup), but you miss out on the fiber - one
of fruit's greatest claim to fame. People are often surprised
to learn that real fruit juice has about as much sugar as regular
pop. Even if the label says "no sugar added", this still stands
true. Sugar in fruits and juices is naturally occurring. Fruit
juice is the beverage of choice for athletes on the go or for
people trying to increase their calorie intake for weight gain.
For the rest of us out there, do yourself a favor - go for
whole fruits and drink water when you're thirsty.
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