Healthy Living for Real People
Posts tagged fruits
Unemployed Doesn’t Have To Mean Unhealthy
Dec 28th
A study released on December 28 by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that fruit and vegetable consumption went down as unemployment figures went up.
Study authors noted “a 2% to 4% reduction in the frequency of fruits and vegetable consumption, and an 8% reduction in the consumption of salad” among those predicted to be at highest risk of being unemployed.
Shortly after the release was made public, several news services and bloggers blasted the research as a waste of time that only stated the obvious. Although it does seem obvious that fruit and vegetable consumption would decrease during times of economic hardship, the researchers and the reporters are missing a more important point…
The thing everyone is missing is that the research reveals a huge, fundamental flaw in our society. If people flock to cheap, packaged, junk food in tough times, they obviously don’t understand anything about nutrition.
Packaged foods are cheap but they’re void of nutrition. Sure they’ll provide calories, but without proper nutrition, you’ll be starving to death on a full stomach. Filling up on nutrient-void, calorie-rich, so-called food can only lead to grave deficiencies. Coupled with other jobless woes such as the loss of health care benefits, depression, and inactivity, giving up on fruit and veggies during tough times can only spell disaster. Of all the possible times to get sick, or have a health-related issue, a time without health insurance or a job would have to be considered one of the worst!
Conversely, when times are tough, we should be buying only those foods that give us the most bang for our buck. Fruit and veggies may cost more per calorie than packaged foods, but their nutrition is unbeatable. By maintaining fruit and vegetable consumption (not necessarily organic) through tough times, you’ll be healthier for it, avoid the doctor’s office, be more energetic (and therefore more active), and better prepared to re-enter the workforce at 100% capacity! Remember, don’t load up on empty calories, load up on nutrition. It doesn’t take much.
If someone you know is giving up on fresh produce because of lost employment, show some genuine concern for their well-being — buy them some veggies!
Veggie Variety Reduces Cancer Risk
Nov 30th
Getting into a rut, it seems, is ill-advised even when it comes to The Hallelujah Diet! A European study involving researchers from 10 countries has determined that lung cancer prevention can vary greatly depending on variety (not just quantity) of fruits and vegetables..
The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) involves 23 center from 10 European countries (Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom and Sweden) working with a sample of 500,000 European subjects. Their research has shown that maintaining a variety of fruits and vegetables can reduce lung cancer risk by up to 23 percent.
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The results of this study show that eating “more than eight sub-groups” of vegetables cuts risk by 23 per cent compared with eating “less than four sub-groups”.
In addition, this risk falls by a further 4 per cent for each unit added to the diet from another sub-group.
Looks like variety really is the spice of life! With so many different types of plant foods available in grocery stores today, there’s ample opportunity to “mix it up” – and get the best health protection possible. Remember this report when planning your garden for next spring, too!
Healthy eating still in the minority
Sep 21st
Diet-wise, if no one else is eating the way you do, you’re probably doing something right! A report released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) earlier this month showed that only about 26 percent of Americans ate vegetables three or more times a day, the same as in 2000.
No state met federal goals of three-quarters of Americans eating enough fruit, and half eating enough vegetables. California ate the most fruit and Tennessee was best with vegetables. Oklahoma was at the bottom for fruit and South Dakota had the lowest vegetable consumption.
Furthermore, it seems that even among those who are trying to eat “healthier” are not going about it the right way. Orange juice was the number one “fruit” and potatoes the number one vegetable – both of which are not ideal.
If you’re eating dark, leafy greens, making green smoothies and juicing vegetables daily, you’re definitely going to be viewed as strange – but you’re on the right track!
PS – Come see us at the Raw Spirit Festival at Watson Lake near Prescott, AZ, September 24-26. We’ll be speaking at 1 pm on Saturday (Sept 25).
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