7+ portions fruit/veg

[noel]

The association between high fruit/vegetable intake - particularly vegetables - is of course just that, an association, and it may be that those who ate lots of fruit/vegetables had no room for calorie dense foods and this contributed to the benefit. It is difficult to eat too much fruit/vegetables in the calorific sense, unless of course you smother them in sugar/fat.
Those in the study with the highest intakes of fruit/vegetables were more likely to be female, non-smokers, better educated and on a higher income - though the statisticians did try to adjust for this. But they tried to adjust for these things when HRT was felt to be the best thing since sliced bread - or should that be parsnips?

So statistically speaking, a sex change and a change to a high-pressure job may be just as good for me. There was a good article by Tim Harford on the difference between causation and associations. Umbrellas are associated with rain but don't cause rain.

Until there is some decent evidence, I'll take this all with[out] a pinch of salt - there is better evidence on the effects of salt intake.

[MickTor]

I honestly think there's something seriously wrong with society food wise, people can't get even 5 portions of fruits of veggies a day, never mind 7-10.

So much crap on the shelves that isn't proper food it's unbelievable.

Stick to nature and you can't go wrong.

[MickTor]

I'm vegetarian and I'm going to struggle to get that much in each day!

And what kind of 'vegetarian' struggles to eat vegetables!

Nothing personal here Hes, I almost find it funny!

[Mike T]

So statistically speaking, a sex change and a change to a high-pressure job may be just as good for me. There was a good article by Tim Harford on the difference between causation and associations. Umbrellas are associated with rain but don't cause rain.

Until there is some decent evidence, I'll take this all with[out] a pinch of salt - there is better evidence on the effects of salt intake.

You can of course go high fruit/vegetable and low salt with DASH: http://www.move.va.gov/download/Reso...EatingPlan.pdf

[Will_B]

I honestly think there's something seriously wrong with society food wise, people can't get even 5 portions of fruits of veggies a day, never mind 7-10.

So much crap on the shelves that isn't proper food it's unbelievable.

Stick to nature and you can't go wrong.

I eat 5 fruit a day fairly easily, mainyl at work because I'm bored. Its the veg side I struggle with. I normally have at best half a tomato and some salad in my sandwhich, and then evening meal normally has a bit of fresh veg in, but typically half a pepper or a couple of mushrooms in my portion.

I think mostly the people that 'eat fruit' will easily hit 5 a day, but its eating raw veg that is more beneficial. I also think that those people that are more likely to eat more fresh fruit and veg (rather than processed food) are also more likely to have a more rounded healthy lifestyle (e.g. drink less alcohol, not smoke, be more active).

[L.F.F.]

Its the veg side I struggle with

Try a green smoothie. Let me know if you want a recipe. Really easy and tasty way to get veg in.

[SCharm]

I eat mainly vegetable based dishes so dont have trouble getting up to 7 a day. Remember pulses are included, so if you have a veg curry with lentils then include them as well, and, as i read today, onion if you use an onion in anything you cook they count.

[Hes]

Ummm...I don't struggle to eat vegetables but I just don't eat that much!

For example my average daily intake is this:
a bowl of muesli for breakfast
three rivitas with some hummus for lunch
a handful of nuts, an apple and a couple biscuits for snacks over the course of the day/evening
Maybe an omelette with broccoli, onion/leeks and spinach for tea or perhaps a baked potato with cheese and salad or some leftovers from the weekend out of the freezer (veggie chilli, bean stew that kind of thing).

My salads usually have at least three different kinds of leaves in with chopped raw red peppers, olives, tomatoes, cucumber and sometimes a bit of avocado so I'm hardly shunning veggies! I eat far more fruit and veg in the summer because I produce more. Looking at Mike T's explanation of what constitutes a portion of veg/fruit in the UK, maybe I am getting the 7 a day already it just sounded like a lot.

And what kind of 'vegetarian' struggles to eat vegetables!

Nothing personal here Hes, I almost find it funny!

[Hes]

Aha, I didn't realise that about the pulses. That means hummus is included too and I was wondering about the onion.

I eat mainly vegetable based dishes so dont have trouble getting up to 7 a day. Remember pulses are included, so if you have a veg curry with lentils then include them as well, and, as i read today, onion if you use an onion in anything you cook they count.

[GeoffB]

My salads usually have at least three different kinds of leaves in with chopped raw red peppers, olives, tomatoes, cucumber and sometimes a bit of avocado so I'm hardly shunning veggies!

So, in a salad, do cucumber & red pepper count as fruit or veg? I know they are both fruits, but they're not exactly sweet and sugary like apples and oranges.