I found this article on webMD! Hooray, the word is slowly spreading. I love reading articles like this so I thought I would share a few paragraphs.
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Keith Barnard, MD
Jan. 18, 2011 — We’re all urged to eat five servings of FRUITS AND VEGETABLES a day, but new research finds eight servings may be needed to cut the risk of dying from HEART DISEASE.
The diet and lifestyles of more than 300,000 people across eight countries in Europe found that people who ate at least eight portions of fruits and vegetables a day had a 22% lower risk of dying from HEART DISEASE than those who ate three portions a day.
Each additional portion in fruits and vegetables was linked to a 4% LOWER RISK OF DEATH.
One portion counted as 80 grams, such as a small banana, a medium apple, or a small carrot.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and around the world, accounting for more than one in every four deaths in the United States, according to the CDC.
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In a statement, Victoria Taylor, senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, says, “The take-home message is still that eating fruit and vegetables is healthy for your heart. We need to remember to MAKE FIVE PORTIONS OUR MINIMUM as the more fruit and vegetables people ate the lower their risk of dying from heart disease became.”
Recent research from the British Heart Foundation and the University of Oxford suggested that 15,000 LIVES A YEAR COULD BE SAVED if everyone ate five servings a day.
I know that it is not always easy and maybe it will feel like too big of a jump for some to switch to eight servings a day, but if we could all take those baby steps. Chop up and apple and dip in in peanut butter instead of a candy bar. Snack on broccoli while watching TV instead of potato chips.(even though potatoes are a veg.ha) Start swapping one or two things. My kids will eat an apple if its chopped up and ready to go, even if they whine and say no at first. I usually end up having to cut two three more for them.
It takes time to adjust your lifestyle, but you are the one who receives the benefits, you deserve health!! Its not too late to make another resolution, if I may suggest one: Add 1-2 servings of fruits and veggies to daily diet.
If that means going from zero to 2 then hooray for you! If that means taking it from 5 to 7 then way to go. We are all on a journey to better ourselves and our lifestyle. Let’s baby step together!
Source: WFM 1-10