Why Fruits and Vegetables Are Beneficial For Heart Health

We all know that fruits and vegetables are good for us. But what most of us do not know is why they are so good for us. To learn more about why fruits and veggies are beneficial for heart health, continue reading this article. Throughout, we will discuss many of the benefits of healthy eating habits, as well as how eating more fresh foods can benefit you and your health.

There has been a wide variety of research done regarding the benefits of eating these types of foods. Recent research suggests that while eating fruits and veggies holds many benefits, the biggest benefits are what they do for the heart. Let’s take a look at some of the many ways healthy eating can benefit our heart health.

There has been a vast amount of research and evidence showing that eating healthy amounts of whole foods can significantly lower an individual’s risk of developing heart disease and stroke. According to a recent study, individual’s who averaged 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day were 30% less likely to have heart attack or stroke than those who averaged less than 2 servings per day. While it is important to eat many types of fruits and vegetables, leafy and cruciferous vegetables (lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, etc.) and citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, etc.) are likely to make the biggest difference when it comes to heart disease and stroke.

Fruits and vegetables also help to protect against heart disease and stroke by lowering blood pressure. High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for heart disease and stroke, so keeping our blood pressure at a normal level is of utmost importance, and, according to research, fruits and vegetables can help us to do just that.

Fruits and vegetables are not only great for your heart, but also for your gastrointestinal health. Why? Fruits and veggies contain a lot of fiber. When fiber passes through our digestive system, it takes in water and expands. This does three things for our bodies. Firstly, it helps to relieve constipation by allowing for regular bowel movements. Secondly, it helps us to lose weight. Because fiber expands in our stomachs, it allows us to eat less and feel fuller faster. Finally, fiber helps to prevent diverticulosis and diverticulitis by decreasing pressure inside of the intestinal tract.

So, in order to obtain each of these benefits, how much fresh produce do we need to eat? According to professionals, we should each eat between 5 and 9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Of course, as we have learned, the more the better. You can never eat too many fruits or veggies!

A healthy you begins with healthy eating practices. Continue searching the internet for more information about healthy eating and dieting. The more you know, the more you can engage in healthy eating practices and decrease your risks surrounding a wide variety of illnesses and diseases.