A new report issued by the CDC says that just one in 10 adults meet the federal recommendations for daily fruit and vegetables and that men, young adults, and people living in poverty consume the fewest amounts.
The eating habits of 90 percent of adults are causing them to miss out on vital nutrients.
“As a result, we’re missing out on the essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that fruits and vegetables provide,” the lead author of the CDC study said.
Federal guidelines for the daily consumption of fruits and vegetables varies by age, gender and level of physical activity. However, generally speaking, it is recommended that adults eat at least 2 to 3 cups per day of vegetables and one and 1/2 to 2 cups per day of fruit.
Vegetables: Generally speaking, one cup of raw or cooked vegetables or vegetable juice, or two cups of raw leafy greens can be considered as one cup from the Vegetable Group.
Fruit: Generally speaking, one cup of fruit or 100% fruit juice, or 1/2 cup of dried fruit can be considered as one cup from the Fruit Group.
The CDC has released guidelines for the proper consumption of fruits and vegetables depending on your age, gender, and physical activity level.
At https://www.choosemyplate.gov/fruit you can see suggestions for the types of fruit choices and the amounts you need to eat daily.
At https://www.choosemyplate.gov/vegetables you can see suggestions for the types of vegetables choices and the amounts you need to eat daily.
In the United States, seven of the top 10 leading causes of death are the result of chronic diseases. The risk for many of these conditions can be lowered through proper diet. The CDC says that consuming a daily diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help lower the risk of diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and obesity.
The CDC says eating just 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day can significantly reduce your disease risk.
The CDC issued its new report in view of a trending decline in vegetable and fruit consumption, as well as, similar findings in previous reports.
A study in 2015 showed that just 9 percent of adults met the consumption recommendation for vegetables. On a state-by-state basis, West Virginia was the lowest with only 6 percent of adults consuming the proper amount of vegetables to a high of 12 percent in Alaska.
The 2015 study showed that only 12 percent of adults met the daily intake recommendations for fruit. On a state-by-state basis, West Virginia was the lowest at 7 percent with Washington, D.C., the highest at 16 percent.
