Wellness Tip: Fruits and Vegetables (5-a-day)

You’ve all heard me say, “eat more deep green leafy vegetables and fruits,” but many of you may have forgotten why. Fruits and vegetables are not only high in fiber, but they contain many different nutrients which can not only boost your immune system, helping you to fight off infection, but also help to reduce your cholesterol and increase your HDL (good cholesterol).

Fruits such as apples are high in fiber and will fill your stomach, making you feel more satisfied and less likely to fill up on other non-nutritious foods. Fiber also binds to fat and helps carry it out of your body before your body has time to absorb all of the fat. Apples are also high in Pectin, which has been shown to help lower your LDL (bad, sticky cholesterol).

Deep green veggies are also high in fiber and act as a cleaning “tool” for your bowel, making you less prone to certain types of cancers, and they also contain nutrients that are shown to improve HDL (good cholesterol).

The new recommendation is that you eat “5 A Day” of fruits and vegetables. Be creative…put your fruit in your morning oatmeal or high fiber cereal. Put spinach in your whole wheat pasta, salads, sandwiches, and soups. The more fruits and vegetables you eat, the less room in your belly for the “bad stuff.”