vegetables
9 October 2006
Major illnesses including heart disease, certain cancers and the prevalence
of strokes could be drastically reduced if South Africans just ate more fruit
and vegetables.
Research suggests that the daily increased consumption of fruit and
vegetables could reduce the burden of heart disease by 31%, certain cancers by
between 12% and 20% and strokes by up to 19%.
It is against this backdrop that the Department of Health's Directorate of
Nutrition and the 5-a-Day for Better Health Trust will be hosting National
Nutrition Week from 9 - 13 October 2006.
'Eat vegetables and fruit for better health' is the key message of National
Nutrition Week, which seeks to educate South Africans of the major health
benefits of adopting a diet that includes at least five daily servings of fruit
and vegetables.
It's recommended that this be supported by drinking lots of clean and safe
water, at least 8 glasses a day, eating and using fats and salt sparingly and
adopting an active, healthy lifestyle that incorporates regular exercise.
"It is a well-documented fact that people who eat a diet high in vegetables
and fruit are less likely to suffer from a wide range of illnesses and enjoy
overall improved health," says Jane Badham, registered dietician and chief
executive of the 5-a-Day for Better Health Trust. "Low fruit and vegetable
consumption contributes to micronutrient (vitamins and minerals) deficiency,
which increases the risk of mortality and morbidity."
It is probably not surprising then that the World Health Organisation (WHO)
has identified low fruit and vegetable intake as one of the top 10 risk factors
contributing to mortality.
Fruit and vegetables:
* provide vitamins and minerals (for proper body functioning)
*�provide dietary fibre (important for normal bowel functioning)
*�are a great source of vitamin A (helps protect against disease)
*�contain powerful phytochemicals (powerhouses of vital nutrients).
People are encouraged to eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables
per day, a concept that has been endorsed by the WHO, the Cancer Association of
South Africa (CANSA) and the Department of Health.
Enquiries:
Bhungani Mzolo
Cell: 072 406 8198
Lynn Moeng
Cell: 082 341 6726
Issued by: Department of Health
9 October 2006
