Fruits And Vegetables Fight To Protect Your Health Fruits And Vegetables Fight To Protect Your Health
National Institute of Health

Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and disease fighting photochemical. Photochemicals are usually related to color, like green, yellow-orange, red, and blue-purple.

Because fruits and vegetables are low in calories and high in fiber, they can help control your weight, as well as give you the nutrition required for energy. They can also reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type II diabetes and certain cancers.

Different bodies have different needs. Little kids (ages 2-6) should eat a minimum of 5 servings a day. Older kids, teen girls and active women should eat 7 servings a day. Teenage boys and active men should eat 9 servings a day. Of course no size fits all, but more is usually better.

One serving of fruits and vegetables should fit within the palm of your hand—it is a lot smaller than most people think