{"id":35384,"date":"2022-06-15T13:59:28","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T11:59:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/?p=35384"},"modified":"2026-11-03T17:30:57","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T16:30:57","slug":"why-fruit-pulses-vegetables-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getindya.com\/en\/why-fruit-pulses-vegetables-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Why are fruit, pulses and vegetables healthy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The eternal question. Since childhood, we have been told to finish our vegetables and eat more greens. But <\/span>do you know why fruit, pulses and vegetables are healthy<\/b>?<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t be confused. Although food pyramids often placed grains and tubers at the bottom, <\/span>fruit, pulses and vegetables are a foundation of a healthy diet<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is why.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Which vegetables should I eat?<\/span><\/h2>\n

You have probably been told to eat a bit of everything. Variety matters, and <\/span>including different food groups is important<\/b>: tubers, grains, nuts, fish, dairy, meat and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

But that should not overshadow fruit, vegetables and pulses, which play a central role in good nutrition.<\/span><\/p>\n

We do not emphasise this just because we enjoy talking about vegetables (although we do). <\/span>Including fruit and vegetables in your diet offers many health benefits.<\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

A varied intake contributes <\/span>micronutrients, bioactive compounds and <\/b>dietary fibre<\/b><\/a>, which helps regulate blood glucose. It supports, rather than automatically guarantees, nutritional adequacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Which fruit and vegetables are healthiest?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Choose vegetables you enjoy. <\/span>We want fruit, pulses and vegetables to be a substantial part of your plate<\/b>, rather than an afterthought. Pick <\/span>options you really like<\/b> and can easily find.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you dislike <\/span>red peppers<\/b>, their <\/span>vitamin C<\/b> content may not persuade you to eat them.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you cannot stand <\/span>bananas<\/b>, knowing they provide <\/span>potassium<\/b> probably will not make you add one to your <\/span>post-workout meal<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

And <\/span>figs<\/b>? They contain <\/span>plenty of fibre<\/b>, but if you cannot find them, why not choose something else?<\/span><\/p>\n

We often repeat this because it is true: <\/span>nutrition works when it fits individual needs<\/b> and adapts to changing circumstances through <\/span>good habits<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Believe it or not, <\/span>your tastes matter a great deal<\/b>. If your eating plan is full of foods you dislike, lasting habits will be harder to establish.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reasons to eat fruit, vegetables and pulses<\/span><\/h2>\n

A <\/span>2017 review of studies<\/span><\/a> estimated that 5.6\u20137.8 million premature deaths worldwide might be attributable, if the observed associations were causal, to fruit and vegetable intake below the levels assessed: 500 g and 800 g per day of fruit and vegetables combined, not separate targets for each.<\/span><\/p>\n

An enormous number.<\/span><\/p>\n

Research also links <\/span>higher fruit and vegetable intake with a lower risk of several chronic diseases<\/b>, including high blood pressure and diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pulses are useful for many reasons, too. They provide:<\/span><\/p>\n