Roe’s Healthy News
Nutrition: Veggies, the Miracle Food

WHERE WE ARE TODAY:
The sad truth is that we (Americans) are just not eating enough vegetables. The proliferation of pre-packaged foods and heat-and-eat meals has just made it more convenient for us to add pounds, while robbing us of the health benefits of natural vegetables. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average adult American eats 4.4 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, which is an increase from 3.9 servings a day when the 5 A Day program began in 1991. Children eat 3.4 servings a day, which is an increase from 3.1 servings a day in 1991.

WHERE WE NEED TO BE AND THE BENEFITS OF GETTING THERE:
Research has shown that eating 5 A Day reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. The recommendation from the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and the USDA (our government) is to EAT A WIDE VARIETY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, on average 7-13 servings (1 serving, ½ cup).

We all have difficulty getting a big variety of fruits and veggies into our diets. We have our likes and dislikes. The variety of fruits and vegetables are limited all year round because of the changes in the seasons. This is why we have to be even more careful about our choices.

Stress can be a problem in itself, of course. But stress can sometimes lead to unhealthy lifestyle patterns—which lead to more stress! For example, when we’re harried and under stress, we tend to make poor food choices. Unfortunately, these food choices can create more stress in the long run, as well as other problems. As you read the following ways in which stress can affect our nutritional choices, ask yourself this: when feeling overwhelmed, have you found yourself doing any of the following?

Drinking Too Much Coffee: When burning the candle at both ends, people often find themselves using coffee drinks to jump-start themselves in the morning, and a pattern of all-day coffee drinking often ensues.

Eating the Wrong Foods: Due partially to increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, stressed people tend to crave foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. Think about it: how often have you turned to your good friends Ben & Jerry after a long, stressful day?

Mindless Munching: Conversely, stress also makes us prone to emotional eating, when we eat when we aren’t hungry, or eat foods that are bad for us. Have you found yourself mindless snacking on junk food, or eating when you aren’t hungry, because of stress?

Forgetting Water: With busy lives, it’s easy to forget to drink your water. In fact, a good portion of Americans drink no water, and get water only from soda or coffee. Do you get a full eight glasses per day, or even four?

Fast Food: People these days eat at home less than in generations past, as it’s easier to just drive through a fast food place or go to a restaurant than to go home and cook something.  Unfortunately, this gets expensive, and is often unhealthy.

Crash Diets: Because of weight gain from stress, some people intentionally eat less food than they need, or try dangerous fad diets in order to lose the excess weight. Diets that aren’t balanced with fruits and vegetables, protein and healthy carbohydrates can often be bad for your health in the long run, even if they look attractive short term.

Roe Melnicove is a former Elementary School Teacher and College Professor. Roe has a BS in Nutrition, an MS in Holistic Health, and is a National Marketing Director for the company Juice Plus+ (powdered fruits and vegetables in capsules). Roe has always embraced a fitness lifestyle, but came to realize that how well we are nourished will determine not only our health, but fitness level. She was so convinced of the important role that nutrition plays in maintaining and recovering our health that she left teaching. She had experienced extreme illness including Systemic Lupus with Renal involvement and tried many supplements and medications to improve her health. Today she is completely symptom free and motivates audiences in a way that they are able to make simple and profound changes that will make a difference to their family’s state of health – now and for future generations. Roe lives in Pittsgrove, NJ with her husband, Howard and her 2 sons, Tyler, and Dustin. www.roejp.com