5 a Day

Fruits and Vegetables are fresh, filling and very good for your heart. According to the American Heart Association we should consume 5 servings of both fruits and vegetables per day to maintain optimal health. We’ve all heard this but why are these foods so important and what is the benefit of having them so often throughout our day?

Disease Prevention
Consuming 5 servings of both fruits and vegetables per day reduces the risk of many diseases including heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, Type 2 diabetes and cardiac and vision problems. Consuming the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables aids in improving blood pressure, gastrointestinal health and can help with weight loss when combined with lower calorie intake as well as physical activity.

Which Fruits and Vegetables are best?
Consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables is best. Fruits and Vegetables are essential for a healthy body, they’re loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber not to mention their low in calories. The American Heart Association recommends filling at least half of your plate with fruits and vegetables to help you towards meeting the goal of consuming 5 servings of each per day. Each fruit and vegetable contains its own list of health properties.

Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables
• Banana, tomatoes and broccoli are high in potassium which helps to maintain a healthy blood pressure and aids in maintaining strength in muscles.
• Carrots are high in Vitamin A which helps maintain eye and skin health and also helps protect the body against infections.
• Bell Peppers are high in Vitamin C which helps heal cuts and wounds and also helps to with maintaining healthy gums and teeth.

For more information on the benefits of Fruits and Vegetables and tips to consuming more fruits and vegetables visit the American Heart Association website.

Resource: American Heart Association

Attend one of the FREE exercise programs offered by the City of Los Fresnos.

For more information contact Christine De La Rosa at 956-312-1406, email [email protected] or Los Frensos City Hall at 956-233-5768.