It's Official. An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

Eating your Fruits and Veggies

We've heard it all through our childhood.  Eat more fruits and vegetables.  Countless studies have shown us the health benefits of fruits and vegetables.  So why is this new study in BMJ, a respected medical journal, important?  Here's why:

• 16 studies were analyzed and combined to form a "meta-analysis", encompassing over 60 years of experience
• 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day were optimal.  
• Compared to people who didn't eat 5 servings, people were 24% more likely to live longer.  Put it another way, people who didn't eat fruit and veggies were almost 1 out of 4 times more likely to die earlier.  
• The optimal ratio was 2 fruits and 3 veggies a day.  
• Fruits and veggies helped people live longer and avoid heart disease
• Fruits and veggies did not impact peoples' risk of dying from cancer, which contradicts many other studies

What's this mean for you?

We know fruits and vegetables are good for you.  Your mother knew it.  We've always known it.  But now we really know how much.  

By the way, the health benefits may also be because while you're busy eating fruits and vegetables, you're not doing other things.  Like eating a big steak.  Or you're getting full from the fruits and vegetables, and you're not eating as many calories overall.  Or the water in the fruits and vegetables is better for you.  We know that eating fruits and vegetables in their natural form preserves the right balance of water, sugar, nutrients and fiber.  When you have "all natural" fruit drinks, they're often loaded with added sugars.  And don't think juicing is the same as eating fruits and vegetables in their natural form.  

About Us

Dr. Hong believes in optimizing a healthy lifestyle to prevent disease.  Contact Dr. Hong’s urology office to schedule an appointment or to find out more.