Fresh produce can help keep you fit and healthy when consumed as part of a healthy and balanced diet.
During the ongoing uncertainty in the wake of the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the question on everyone’s lips is how to give their body the best chance of dealing with the virus in the most positive way.
Keeping active and eating good quality fresh produce is proven to act as an #immunebooster
Eat your five a day
Current National Health Service (NHS) guidelines advise consuming a minimum of five portions of fresh produce per day to keep you fit and healthy.
According to the NHS, eating at least five portions of fresh fruit and veg each day provides significant health benefits. The beauty of the advice is that it’s only five portions altogether, not five portions of each!
Fruit is a fantastic source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants including vitamin C, potassium and folate. Antioxidants found in fruit contribute to a healthy immune system which in turn helps fight off unwanted illness.
Consume fresh produce daily
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that sufficient daily consumption of fresh produce could ‘help prevent major diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers.’ Fruit and vegetables are vital components of a healthy food regime and the WHO estimates that around 1.7 million (2.8%) of deaths worldwide are ‘attributable to low fruit and vegetable consumption.’
Practical advice from the WHO includes eating at least 400g of fresh produce each day as well as eating fresh fruit as a daily snack and ensuring that you also have a variety of colourful produce available to you.
Tips to get your kids healthy eating
Ensuring that you’re eating enough fresh produce is important enough, but when you have children or dependents it’s especially significant.
A few tips to incorporate more fresh fruit into your child’s diet:
- Try adding a few grapes into a bag and freezing them. They’re perfect as a healthy snack for older kids or younger children if chopped in half first! Grapes are not only delicious, but also contain anti-oxidants such as vitamin C and manganese
- Smash that ripe avocado you have sitting in your fridge and add it to your child’s toast for a vitamin C, potassium and all round #immuneboost
- Try pureeing mango and adding it as a sweet hit to mealtime desserts or breakfast porridge. Mango is high in vitamin C and helps boost your immunity and can prevent cold/flu symptoms
- Kiwis may be small but their health benefits are huge. Why not peel your kiwi before giving it out as a snack to provide an immune system boost including vitamin K, vitamin E and of course vitamin C
The Jupiter Group is a leader in the global fresh produce market. Ranked 17th in the 2020 The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200, Jupiter grows and supplies new and traditional varieties of grapes and citrus alongside melons, pineapples, limes, avocados and kiwi.