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Although a diet high in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk for many chronic diseases, Americans just aren’t getting enough. Since 2000, the amount of vegetables Americans are eating has stayed the same and the amount of fruit Americans are eating has gone down.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced trends in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults. The CDC has spearheaded efforts with goals of getting 75 percent of Americans to eat two or more servings of fruit a day and 50 percent to eat three or more servings of vegetables a day.
Unfortunately, Americans aren’t meeting these modest targets. The CDC found that only about a third of adults were eating their recommended servings of fruit, and just over a quarter of adults were eating their recommended servings of vegetables.
So why aren’t Americans getting their recommended servings of fruits and vegetables? It turns out Americans might be spoiled when it comes to their produce.
A national survey conducted by Fruit2day reveals that nearly half of Americans leave fruit in their fridge until it rots, with people in Boston among the worst and those in New York and Los Angeles among the best. Most Americans admit to leaving fruit in the fridge for more than a week.
Other findings of the study: Americans choose strawberries as their favorite fruit. Bananas come in second. The reason behind the love of strawberries? Americans see themselves as having sweet, caring personalities like a strawberry.
Tips to improve your diet:
• Buy pesticide-free organic fruits and vegetables.
• Reduce foods with added sugars.
• Watch your sodium intake.
• Avoid trans fats.
Acupuncture & Massage College’s Community Clinic offers acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and massage therapy for a wide range of health conditions as well as for overall wellness. To schedule an appointment call (305) 595-9500. For information about AMC’s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs ask for Joe Calareso, Admissions Director.
