Why 5 A Day?

Why 5 A DAY?

Base on the advice from WHO, consume a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day to lower the risk of health problems such as heart disease, stroke, type  two diabetes, and obesity.  Hence, your five portions of fruit and vegetables will contain different combinations of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients for diseases prevention.

What count towards 5 A DAY?

Almost all fruit and vegetables count towards your 5 A DAY.

The following count towards your 5 A DAY:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Frozen fruit and vegetables.
• Tinned or canned fruit and vegetables without added sugar or salt.
• Dried fruit, such as currants, dates, sultanas and figs. 
• Fruit and vegetables cooked in dishes such as soups, stews or pasta dishes.
• A glass (150ml) of unsweetened pure fruit or vegetable juice. (Juice counts as a maximum of one portion a day, however much you drink. That's mainly because juice contains less fibre than whole fruits and vegetables)
• Smoothies. A smoothie containing all of the edible pulped fruit and/or vegetable may count as more than one portion but this depends on how it's made. Smoothies count as up to a maximum of two portions per day. 
• Beans and pulses. These only count as one portion a day, no matter how many you eat. That's because they contain fewer nutrients than other fruits and vegetables.
• Fruit and vegetables in convenience foods, such as ready meals and shop-bought pasta sauces, soups and puddings. Some ready-made foods are high in salt, sugar and fat, so only have them occasionally or in small amounts. You can find the salt, sugar and fat content of ready-made foods on the label.  

*Sweet potatoes, parsnips, swedes and turnips do count toward your 5 A DAY, because they are usually eaten in addition to the starchy food part of the meal.

 *Potatoes and cassava don’t count because they mainly contribute starch to the diet.

Source: www.nhs.uk