Nov

5-a-day and Nutritional Therapy

Modern Eating Habits

One of the things my clients find tricky to do is get their “5-a-day.”

And trying to come up with new ways for them to include fruit and vegetables into their own and their family’s lives also keeps me on my toes.

Somewhere along the line, modern life seems to have gotten us a little lost along the way.

Our lives are so busy nowadays that we no longer have time to sit down and eat, let alone think about what it is we are actually eating!

All the things that make our lives easier – take aways/fast food, ready meals, microwaves, energy-in-a-can – are the very things that are making it harder for us to enjoy our lives.

In fact this all makes for increasingly worrying media attention and Government statistics.

It has been reported that up to half of the UK adult population only manage one to two portions per day of fruit and vegetables; with women eating more portions than men; and children eating far less than adults.

It’s estimated that the consequences of poor diet in the UK cause over 42,000 premature deaths per year and cost the UK’s National Health Service in the region of £6bn.

The advertising power of the fast food and confectionery businesses far outweighs that of the humble nutritionist and despite a more health-conscious effort to change public perception and eating habits; this is seen as normal.

Why 5 a day?

Widespread research and studies have determined a link between ill health and poor diet; coming to the conclusion that populations who consume more fruit and vegetables have lower occurrences of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, strokes and other illnesses.

In 1991 the World Health Organisation took the proactive stance of recommending that we all eat at least five fruit and vegetables per day.

The nutrients contained in fruit and vegetables work as the foundation of good health and are vital for many of our bodily functions.

Five daily portions of fruit and vegetables are considered to be crucial in providing us with the essential levels of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants needed to optimise our health and have a preventative effect against serious illness.

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