Importance of consuming fruits and vegetables

Almost anyone who is slightly concerned about his diet knows about the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.But, not enough people are following it in practice. Nutricians recommend that every person should eat at least five servings of fresh fruits & vegetables every day. In fact, one of the easiest steps that you can take to maintain a healthy lifestyle is to increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables. Besides, it also helps with weight loss and overall fitness. Studies have shown that a diet rich in fruits & vegetables lowers the risk of cancers, heart disease and other chronic diseases. While many people know about the presence of vitamin C, oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits also contain significant amounts of fiber. Fiber plays an important role in digestion, and it is thought to have protective qualities against heart disease and some forms of cancer. In addition, fiber is thought to have the ability to lower high levels of cholesterol in the blood.Another great feature of fresh fruits & vegetables, especially to those watching their weight, is the high nutrition, low fat, and low calorie nature of these foods. Fruits and vegetables contain very low levels of fats, and a diet low in fat can be quite effective for long-term weight loss. In addition, fruits and vegetables contain no cholesterol, and they are lower in calories than many other types of foods.