CDC report: Americans are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables

by Stepy — July 14, 2015

Fruits and vegetables are nature’s health foods and medicine. Research has shown that eating fruits and veggies is key to longer life, may prevent stroke, and promote overall health.

New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that most Americans are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables.

As written in the CDC report:

“Eating more fruits and vegetables adds nutrients to diets, reduces the risk for heart disease, stroke, and some cancers, and helps manage body weight when consumed in place of more energy-dense foods (1). Adults who engage in <30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily should consume 1.5–2.0 cup equivalents of fruit and 2–3 cups of vegetables daily.* However, during 2007–2010, half of the total U.S. population consumed <1 cup of fruit and <1.5 cups of vegetables daily; 76% did not meet fruit intake recommendations, and 87% did not meet vegetable intake recommendations.”

To summarize, only 13 percent of people in the CDC survey said that they ate the recommended amount of fruits per day. Only 9 percent ate enough vegetables.

There were fluctuations between some states. Certain states were better than others.

California, which is one of America’s biggest produce states, ranked highest in consumption of both fruits and vegetables. Tennessee was lowest on the list for fruit consumption, and Mississippi placed last in veggie consumption.

The study authors concluded:

“These results indicate that <18% of adults in each state consumed the recommended amount of fruit and <14% consumed the recommended amount of vegetables. Increased attention to food environments in multiple settings, including child care, schools, communities, and worksites, might help improve fruit and vegetable intake, and thus help prevent chronic disease.”

The survey results showing that Americans are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables were published on the CDC website.

Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.

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REFERENCES:
1. “Adults Meeting Fruit and Vegetable Intake Recommendations — United States, 2013.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 July 2015. Web. 13 July 2015.
2. “Fruits and Vegetables Consumption and Risk of Stroke.” Stroke. American Heart Association, 8 May 2014. Web. 13 July 2015.
3. “Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Mortality from All Causes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer: Systematic Review and Dose-response Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.” The BMJ. British Medical Journal, 29 July 2014. Web. 13 July 2015.