Foods for a longer, healthier life?

Are there foods that will lead to a healthier, longer life?   Students in my classes love to ask questions and one student noted:  �I want to live a long time.  What foods do I need to eat?�   Great question and there are foods that will decrease your risk of disease and increase your changes of living longer.  Actually, there are two food groups that will lead to a longer life: fruits and vegetables.  So boring yet so important to our health. 

• What is the minimum servings of fruits and veggies we need?  5 A Day, a minimum of 5 A Day.
• Who is lacking in fruits and veggies?  Most of us are. 

                87% of Americans are not eating enough fruit (at least a 1.5 to 2 cups a day)

                75% of Americans are not eating their veggies (2-3 cups a day)

CNBC quotes Marion Nestle, a professor nutrition at New York University as saying, �Everyone would be healthier eating more vegetables.�   (You're Still Not Eating Enough Vegetables)

CDC and the National Cancer Institute found that less than 18% of adults in every state consumed the recommended amount of fruit each day and less than 14% consumer the recommended amount of vegetables.  (And if you are counting French Fries � no go.  Too high in fat and calories.)

Goal � eat 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables each day to lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and many other health conditions. 

Even better, eat 7 or more servings a day and  lower your risk of dying from any cause over they next 8 years by 42% compared to your fellow Americans who eat only 1 serving of fruit or veggies a day. 

You can help not only yourself by eating more fruits and veggies but others.  Yesterday, my daughter was sponsoring a pizza party for youth volunteers.  She added fresh strawberries, a veggie plate to round out the lunch. The youth ate the veggie plate and devoured every strawberry.  Having a luncheon at work?  Make sure fruit and veggies are offered.  

Make your day 5 A DAY, every day.

Sources:  You're Still Not Eating Enough Vegetables,  Image Source: Fruits and Vegetables