Fruits/Veggies feature a diverse array of phytonutrients that help to optimize health across all body systems.** Their wellness benefits are numerous and include:
- Supplying whole food-based vitamins & minerals.**
- Possessing potent botanical antioxidant activity.**
- Promoting cardiovascular & digestive wellness.**
What are Fruits & Vegetables?
Over the course of millennia, humanity has thrived in large part due to the availability of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. Plant-sourced diets have provided an array of flavors and textures that have shaped cuisines and general eating habits all across the globe, with each culture finding its own signature fruits and veggies, along with other botanical edibles such as grasses, sprouts and herbs.
Fruits and vegetables are closely associated with nutritional well-being, yet recent investigations have shown that many people don't get enough on a daily basis. A report issued in 2010 by the CDC revealed that more than 70% of adults in the US do not eat vegetables three or more times per day, coming in well under that recommended range.**
In its "Dietary Guidelines for Americans," the USDA has emphasized the need for regular intake of these missing fruits and vegetables, citing their content of nutrients that many lack in adequate levels, such as dietary fiber and vitamins A and C. Furthermore, the USDA guidelines state, "Consumption of vegetables and fruits is associated with reduced risk of many chronic [health problems]. Specifically, moderate evidence indicates that intake of at least 2½ cups of vegetables and fruits per day is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular [issues]." The USDA additionally encourages consumption of vegetables and fruits as a smart healthy weight management strategy.**
Since many have a hard time reaching these daily amounts, fruits/veggies as supplements can aid in rounding out a diet that may not be regularly reaching ideal levels. Along with various vitamins and minerals, these whole food supplements often feature dietary fiber and polyphenols that work as antioxidants to fight oxidative stress, which accelerates the body's aging process. These fruit-and-vegetable supplements may also supply more exotic plant based nutrients not typically found in the diet, such as spirulina and chlorella from plant-like algae. Many of these plant/algae-based foods also promote circulatory health and may help with effective weight management.**
Key ingredients in many of the most popular fruit & veggie whole food vitamins include:
- Apple: Various parts of this popular fruit may be incorporated into multivitamins, most notably apple pectin, which is a major source of soluble fiber. Research has shown that apple pectin helps to establish a "full" feeling and has a cleansing effect on the digestive tract. Apple's fruit extract, along with its juice, also contains antioxidants that support overall well-being.**
- Blueberry: This renowned sweet and subtly tart fruit is most valued for its antioxidant-rich anthocyanins, which are associated with numerous benefits, including aging wellness, circulatory health and focused eyesight.**
- Pomegranate: One of the favorite fruits of India and the Middle East, pomegranate contains hundreds of tart red seeds. Plentiful in vitamin C and antioxidants, along with other significant nutrients, the fruit has a range of culinary and traditional health uses, particularly in Ayurveda. Ellagic acid, one of pomegranate’s most notable compounds, supports cardiovascular wellness and healthy aging.**
- Kale: A dark leafy green in the Brassica family along broccoli and cabbage, kale is abundant in a wide variety of phytonutrients. These include vitamins A, C and K, as well as ample levels of non-dairy calcium. Kale also features lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids known for their vision-promoting properties, and sulforaphane, an antioxidant linked to modulating inflammation and upholding circulatory health.**
- Spirulina: This unicellular bluish-green form of algae contains various wellness-supportive compounds such as amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, mineral and vitamins. A prominent green food, spirulina fights harmful free radicals and assists with regulating inflammatory response. Studies have shown that spirulina may optimize cardiovascular and immune function.**
- Chlorella: Like spirulina, chlorella is a form of single-celled green algae. Its array of nutrients includes vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids, as well as the essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid. Chlorella has been investigated for a variety of health applications, most notably encouraging ideal cardiovascular wellness and immune system response.**
- Barley Grass: This grain-sourced grass is barley in its green stage. Similar to its popular relative wheat grass, it features chlorophyll, enzymes and amino acids, along with various vitamins and minerals. Research indicates that the antioxidants in barley grass aid in maintaining overall well-being and may hold further health-promoting potential.**
Fruit & Vegetable Products
Supplemental fruits/veggies are derived from plants, along with some varieties of algae. These products are offered in numerous forms, including capsules, tablets and powders. Many whole food multivitamins combine fruits and vegetables with green foods such as spirulina for a nutrient-rich blend that is extracted only from plants and algae.**
Fruit & Vegetable Product Directions for Use
Before taking these supplemental fruits/veggies or commencing with any nutrient regimen, talk to your health care provider. No set suggested dosage of these products has been established. Nutrient amounts vary based on specific ingredients, with capsules and tablets commonly in the range of 500 mg to 1,000 mg.**
