The five-a-day diet plan

A good article.

(Courtsey:Times of India)

DAILY MIRROR ,Jan 4, 2012, 12.00AM IST



The five-a-day diet plan

To meticulously stick to your body's requirement of five fruit-veggie portions every day, it is important that you know all about the programme.

The five-a-day plan - long hailed as the cornerstone of great health - stresses on the health benefits of eating five portions of fruits and vegetables every day.

As most fruit and vegetables are low in fat and calories but high in fibre, they help in filling us up without piling on the pounds and keeping our hearts healthy. The fibre they contain keeps our digestive system healthy, preventing problems such as constipation, piles and bowel cancer. For instance, their soluble fibre helps lower cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.

Fruits and veggies also boost vitamin and mineral intake, including folate for a healthy nervous system and vitamin C for strong immunity and healthy skin and hair. They also provide potassium, which helps lower blood pressure and many antioxidants that help guard against problems such as heart disease, strokes, cancer, dementia, arthritis and even wrinkles.

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