Your health can benefit from eating nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables daily. No single fruit or vegetable provides all of the nutrients you need to be healthy, so be sure to eat a wide variety of produce.
Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is associated with a decreased risk of certain diseases or health conditions, as stated by Health Canada, Harvard School of Public Health, Canadian Cancer Society, Dietitians of Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The majority of Canadians do not meet the recommendation of eating 5 to 10 fruits and vegetables per day (1). Yet it is worth the effort to increase your daily intake.
Healthy Diet and Cancer
Cancer appears to be caused by the abnormal regulation of cell division. Cells may produce abnormal tissues by dividing too rapidly in an attempt to create new cells. Another abnormal regulation is when old cells fail to die off and be replaced by new ones. This cell growth can advance to the point where it becomes life threatening, spreading throughout the body and affecting the normal function of organs (2).
There are numerous types of cancer and almost every organ or tissue is susceptible to the growth of cancer cells. There are multiple known causes of cancer such as radiation, sunlight, tobacco and certain viruses. However researchers are still uncertain about the cause of many cancers (2).
Canadian Cancer Society recommendations
- Eat Well. Eat 5-10 servings of vegetables and fruits every day.
- Stay active. Enjoy 30 to 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
- Maintain a healthy body weight. (2)
Harvard School of Public Health - Eating Fruits & Vegetables!
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fruits.html
References
- Overview of Canadians Eating Habits 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/82-620-MIE/82-620-MIE2006002.pdf
- The US National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001289.htm
- Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,,3543_10139__langId-en,00.html