5 a day - Fruit & Vegetables

There’s no denying it most of us are not eating our full intake of fruit & vegetables. Fresh fruit and vegetables rarely play a role in our meal planning even though it is a medically recognised fact that they form an important part of a balanced eating plan.
Vitamin A is converted from betacarotene found in Yellow and Orange fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin C can be found in all Fruits – in particular citrus fruits like oranges and lemons.
Antioxidants found in Fruits & Vegetables (Vitamins A, C & E in particular) are known for protecting against numerous infections. Research also indicates these antioxidants may also protect against cancer.
Most traditional vegetables are available from your local supermarket. However, growing your own vegetables is by far more rewarding than buying. Interesting varieties of fruit and vegetables that are not available from your local supermarket or fruit and vegetable store can be grown at home as an alternative to travelling to purchase them.
Vegetables can be prepared in hundreds of interesting ways. Opinions differ as to whether raw vegetables are better than cooked but in reality it is more important to eat them than to worry about what the best preparation method is. As a general rule however, fresh vegetables are slightly richer in nutrients due to leaching during the cooking process.
One way to prevent leaching during cooking is to add lots of vegetables to Stews, Casseroles & Soups, this way the majority of nutrients are retained in the liquid, which is consumed rather than poured down the drain.
Another method is to keep the liquid and use, as a stock for future recipes (can be kept frozen).
I can remember my grandmother pouring the water from her boiled carrots into a glass and drinking it instead of her usual cup of tea. She also swore by this as a cure for the common cold (after she added garlic of course).
There is a lot of debate as to the nutrient differences between Organic and non-organically grown Fruit & Vegetables. There is a lot of information out there, beyond the scope of this article, I would recommend you continue your research into this area. As an Organic Gardener myself, I would only recommend the Organic variety.
Eric Smith is an Organic Gardener, Environmentalist and has studied Natural Therapies in depth. Eric represents ONE Group Certified Organic Skin Care, Home & Nutritional Products - http://www.milifestyle.net/ Click Here to Find out about Berry Radical Antioxidant SuperfoodSocial Bookmarking