Why Americans need to eat more fruits and vegetables

Americans don't eat enough fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. So why don't we eat more of them?

In an article on Healthfinder.gov, it disclosed that fruits and vegetables benefit us when it comes to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. The Department of Agriculture recommended daily dietary guideline says that we should consume from two to 6.5 cups of fruit and vegetables. However, 9 out of 10 Americans eat fewer than that amount. Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator in Denver said, "I would say many of my clients get maybe a cup of vegetables and maybe a fruit throughout the day, if I'm being generous". She went on to say that fruits and vegetables contain large amounts of fiber. Fiber aids in the digestive system, but also helps lower cholesterol and keeps your blood sugar stable. It doesn't matter if the fruits and vegetables are frozen, fresh or canned, you still get the same benefits. Crandall suggested that the fruits or vegetables can be cut up so that they are bite-sized and can be used for snacks. You can also make a vegetable tray. That can prevent them from going bad in your refrigerator. The important thing is that Americans really need to eat fruits and vegetables as much as we can. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some good information on working fruits and vegetables into your diet.