NHS Choices - Choose Five A Day
5 A DAY from NHS Choices highlights the health benefits of getting five 80g portions of fruit and vegetables every day. That’s five portions of fruit and veg altogether, not five portions of each.
Fruit and vegetables are part of a balanced diet and can help us to stay healthy. That’s why it so important that we get enough of them.
Five reasons to get five portions: -
- Fruit and vegetables taste delicious and there's so much variety to choose from.
- They're a good source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium.
- They're an excellent source of dietary fibre.
- They can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.
- Fruit and vegetables contribute to a healthy and balanced diet.
Fruit and vegetables are also usually low in fat and calories (provided you don’t fry them or roast them in lots of oil). That’s why eating them can help you maintain a healthy weight and keep your heart healthy.
5 A DAY is based on advice from the World Health Organization, which recommends eating a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day to lower the risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
To get the most benefit out of your 5 A DAY, your five portions should include a variety of fruit and vegetables. This is because different fruits and vegetables contain different combinations of fibre, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
Almost all fruit and vegetables count towards your 5 A DAY. Potatoes and cassava don’t count because they mainly contribute starch to the diet.
Getting your 5 A DAY is easy. To learn more visit 5 A DAY: What Counts?
In the 5 A DAY section, you’ll find lots of advice and information, from portion sizes to recipes and restaurant tips, to help you and your family fit five portions into your daily lives.
Fruit and vegetables don’t have to be fresh to count as a portion. Nor do they have to be eaten on their own: they also count if they're part of a meal or dish.
To learn more visit 5 A DAY: Portion Sizes.
To get the most benefit from your five portions, eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. Have a look at some of the great 5 A DAY: Recipe Ideas.
For more information about a healthy, balanced diet, visit NHS Choices Good Food
Courtesy of www.nhs.uk