Ok, OMG, shocking, fruits and vegetables are good for you. We know. It’s not all that sexy—produce helps you maintain a healthy weight and lower your risk for death from many causes. Duh. But ask yourself: Are you really getting enough?
Because according to a new study in the British Medical Journal, the majority of adults worldwide eat less than half of the five servings they’re supposed to get per day.
The article is based on an analysis of 16 previous studies—all lasting between four and 26 years—that looked at a total of more than 800,000 people in the United States, Asia and Europe. The researchers found that each serving of fruits and veggies was linked with a five percent lower risk for death of any cause (i.e. one-serving-eaters had a five percent lower likelihood of death than zero-serving-eaters, and the risk of death decreased by five percent for each additional serving). The protection seemed to max out at five servings—the current recommended level—but that doesn’t mean it’s not ok to eat more than five servings, the study authors say. (Giant kale salad, anyone?)
Take a quick look at the recommendations on ChooseMyPlate.gov—depending on your age or activity level, you may realize it’s time to adjust the amount of fruits and veggies you get daily. —Anna Maltby for Self.com
How many servings of fruits and veggies are you eating daily? Share in the comments below!
