If there’s one piece of advice that gets chimed at us repeatedly, it is that we must eat at least 5 a day. We are of course talking about a mixture of 5 fruits and vegetables as part of our everyday diet.
But have you ever considered why this advice is drilled into us at such an early age and even appears on most food packaging labels?
In today’s blog, we will be uncovering the mystery of the 5 a day so that you can feel like the healthiest version of yourself.
What Is 5 A Day?
5 a day refers to 5 individual portions of fruit and vegetables. This is where people can get confused since a tiny amount of fruit or vegetable included in a meal does not constitute a portion.
Instead, you should look to eat a whole amount of that fruit or vegetable, such as a whole banana as a snack, an entire chopped pepper in a stir fry, a pot of edamame beans etc. In addition, food labels will also alert you if the product contains any of your 5 a day.
Who Created The 5 A Day?
Although it seems like the 5-a-day advice has been around forever, it was officially created in March 2003 by the then Labour government. Though in New Zealand, the slogan has been in use as far back as 1994.
The idea behind the initiative was to encourage adults to eat more fruit and vegetables each day. While the sentiment still stands, some health officials now claim the number should in fact be 10 portions of fruit and vegetables a day in order to live a long life with a reduced chance of developing the disease.
Eating 5 A Day – Why Does It Matter?
We’ve mentioned on this blog before how our bodies need a variety of vitamins and nutrients in order to function properly, and this also ties in with the 5-a-day mantra.
It is hoped that by eating 5 completely different fruits or vegetables, your body will receive an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals that will help prevent illness and disease. This includes the likes of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin K, iron, calcium, magnesium and Zinc. Though this list is far from exhaustive, it does cover some of the most important nutrients the body needs yet is often deficient in.
You may have also heard of the rainbow diet, and this is another excellent way to ensure your diet is providing everything your body needs. In essence, a rainbow diet is trying to eat every colour of the rainbow every day or at least every week, so that you get the full spectrum of nutrients.
For example, carrots would be orange, blueberries would be indigo and red peppers would be red. There are many different fruits and vegetables that correspond to each colour of the rainbow which you need to aim for.
Vitamin Supplements UK
In addition to making sure you eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, supplementation can also help to keep your vitamin and nutrient levels at an optimum level. Doing so will ensure your body can function properly, and can also help to avoid many side effects that can arise due to vitamin or nutrient deficiency.
Optml is a two-step system that is ideal for anyone looking to support their health and wellbeing, particularly their energy levels in the day, and their sleep at night.
Try Optml today and we’ll send you our Rise and Rest formulas. Packed with essential nutrients and vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, iron and magnesium citrate, Optml is designed to help you feel like the best and healthiest version of yourself.