Healthy Vegetarian Diet – Healthy Fruits

Healthy vegetarian diet is among the healthiest of all foods, and the great variety of these foods at the local grocery store makes it easier than every to enjoy great meals and snacks anytime the mood strikes you.

The latest food guidelines recommend that adults eat from five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day. While that may seem like a lot, it is an important goal to strive for, and a very reachable one.

A serving of a fruit or vegetable is equal to:

• 1 medium sized vegetable or fruit (such as an apple, orange or banana)
• 2 small fruits (such as kiwi fruit or plums)
• ½ cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruits or vegetables
• ½ cup of 100% fruit juice
• ¼ cup of dried fruit
• 1 cup of green salad

Eating a healthy vegetarian diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables is a great way to start a healthier lifestyle.

Heart Healthy Diet

Healthy vegetarian diet that is high in fruits and vegetables has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and even some kinds of cancer. Healthy vegetarian diet that is high in fruits and vegetables are also important in maintaining a healthy weight.

Since different varieties of Healthy vegetarian diet contain different types and levels of nutrients, it is important to each a good variety of fruits and vegetables. Eating a good combination of yellow, orange, red and green healthy vegetarian diet is a great way to ensure adequate levels of nutrition.

Source of Fiber

Healthy vegetarian diet is also an important source of fiber. One way to maximize the amount of fiber you get from Healthy vegetarian diet is to eat the entire fruit and vegetable including the edible peel.

Eating fruits and vegetables whole, instead of simply drinking fruit juice, is the best way to enjoy the fiber these foods have to offer. Orange juice may be very healthy vegetarian diet, but it does not contain the same amount of fiber as a whole orange.

Getting sufficient fiber in the healthy vegetarian diet offers a great many health benefits, including aiding in digestion, lowering levels of cholesterol in the blood, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, and reducing the chances of some forms of cancer.

In addition, fiber is though to play an important role in controlling levels of blood sugar in diabetics. Fiber also helps dieters feel full while limiting the number of calories you consume.

Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables

Many people wonder if canned and frozen fruits and vegetables are as healthy and nutritious as the fresh varieties of healthy vegetarian diet. The simple answer to this question is yes.

Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables contain just as many vitamins and minerals as their fresh counterparts, so it is fine to replace fresh fruits and vegetables with canned and frozen varieties when fresh ones are not available.

Fresh fruits and vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables are often less expensive, however, especially when they are in season. In addition, local farmers markets and produce stands are often great sources of the freshest, most delicious fruits and vegetables at some excellent prices.

Preparing the Fruits and Vegetables

How vegetables and fruits are prepared is just as important as how they are chosen. It is important to rinse fresh fruit and vegetables thoroughly under clean running water. This step is important in order to remove any dirt, pesticide residue or bacterial contamination.

The outermost leaves of lettuce and cabbage should be removed, and the outside of root vegetables like carrots and potatoes should be removed, especially if you plan to consume the skins of those vegetables.

Vegetables and fruits should be washed right before they are used in order to keep them as fresh as possible. The best ways to cook vegetables in order to maintain their freshness is to boil, microwave or steam the veggies until they are tender and crisp.

It is best to use as little water as possible when cooking vegetables. That is because overcooking can destroy some of the valuable vitamins and minerals the vegetables contain.

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