Daily HealthBeat Tip - March 20, 2007

Fruits and veggies – more matters

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Fruits and vegetables are essential to good health. Eating enough every day may help to prevent many chronic diseases. Current dietary guidelines say the amount people need depends on age, sex and activity level. But most of us don't eat as much as we should.

So health experts, working with the Produce for Better Health Foundation, are refining the advice. The new initiative, replacing 5-a-day, is Fruits and Veggies – More Matters.

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Larry Cohen:

"The focus has been taken away from a specific number of servings. Fruits and Veggies – More Matters focuses on small, achievable steps, getting consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables over time." (10 seconds)

Cohen says all forms of fruits and vegetables can count. But he warns some processed products contain added sugar and salt.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April, 06 2007