Vegetables and Fruits Could Help You

We all know we should be eating fruits and vegetables because they’re full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. But aside from keeping you nourished and fending off heart disease and cancer, getting your fill of produce offers functional benefits ranging from retaining muscle mass to having a more appealing complexion. About two-thirds of U.K. adults fall short of the recommended two daily fruit servings, and nearly 75 percent don’t down the advised three servings of vegetables. If you’re in the majority, here are two more reasons to fill the gap.

Muscle Maintenance

We tend to think of meat as muscle food, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Researchers at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University examined the link between muscle mass and potassium-rich fruits and vegetables. After studying nearly 400 men and women for three years, they found that those who ate the most potassium maintained an average of 3.6 additional pounds of muscle compared to those who consumed half as much. The daily goal for potassium is 4,700 mg per day, but most adults consume far less. To up your intake, include one to two cups of fruits and vegetables at every meal. Potassium rich options include sweet potatoes, spinach, bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, beans, broccoli and avocado.

 

Blood-Sugar Regulation

You may not think of naturally sweet fruit as a blood-sugar regulator, but the research is impressive. Berries, including bilberries, black currants, cranberries and strawberries, have been shown to reduce blood sugar and insulin levels after meals. Scientists believe that a key antioxidant in strawberries blocks the activity of an enzyme responsible for breaking starch into simple sugar—that means fewer simple sugars are released into the blood stream, thus lowering the blood sugar and the corresponding insulin response. This is also key for weight control because insulin shuttles excess sugar into fat cells. Add berries to whole grain cereal, whip them into a smoothie or enjoy them as a dessert or snack.

Cynthia Sass is the author of S.A.S.S. Yourself Slim: Conquer Cravings, Drop Pounds, and Lose Inches