Fruit and vegetables
Choosing a Rainbow of Produce for Good Health
In the food world, fruits and vegetables have it all - a huge range of flavors, a wide variety of textures,
a rainbow of colors and a list of health benefits that's hard to beat.
It's nearly impossible to overstate the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. Name a health
problem in the U.S. and produce has probably been shown to help in its prevention and/or treatment. The
incredible array of phytonutrients in plant foods has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood
pressure, diabetes, macular (eye) degeneration, prostate problems, osteoporosis and many types of cancer.
Unfortunately, we are not taking full advantage of these health benefits. Studies by the Produce for
Better Health Foundation show that Americans are eating only about 3½ servings of produce per day - far short
of the recommended minimum of five servings per day. For kids only 33 percent ar...