Fruits and vegetables intake fail to meet WHO recommendations

Three in four adults worldwide do not meet the World Health Organization recommended minimum of five servings (or 400 grams) of fruits and vegetables per day.

This latest research revelation was stressed during a press conference organized by Amway Philippines last Oct.1.

A newly published research in the British Journal of Nutrition and featured in the just-released Global Phytonutrient Report highlighted a significant shortfall in fruits and vegetables consumption in people’s diets around the world. Commissioned by the Amway’s Nutrilite Health Institute, the research said majority of adults worldwide would have to at least double their current fruits and vegetables consumption to meet the WHO recommendations.

“Insights from the research highlight a global need for increased awareness of the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption, and phytonutrient intakes,” said Dr. Keith Randolph, nutrition technology strategist at the Nutrilite Health Institute and a research coauthor.

Phytonutrients

Fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients that can help promote good eye, joint and heart health, as well as support immune and brain function.  Specific recommendations for phytonutrient consumption levels have not yet been established uniformly worldwide.

A growing body of research howwever suggests that eating foods rich in phytonutrients may provide a range of health benefits—from promoting eye, bone and heart health to supporting immune and brain function. Many phytonutrients are powerful antioxidants that can help fight the damage caused to our bodies’ cells over time.

Unfortunately, many people are falling short of the recommended daily minimum consumption of fruits and vegetables. The gap between what is recommended and the actual amount by most adults worldwide shows they are not receiving the quantity or variety of phytonutrients. The vast majority of adults worldwide—60 to 87 percent across 13 geographic diet regions—are falling short of this recommendation and missing out on crucial nutrition and health benefits.

Low intakes

In Asia, the research noted that adults would have relatively low intakes of ellagic acid, which is vital to cell health, due to the limited availability of berries. The hectic schedules of people; the cost and availability of the fruits and vegetables themselves; the seasonal and geographical availability; and perceptions on the value of fruits and vegetables as food sources greatly contributed to the nonmeeting of the recommendations, Randolph said.

Amway Philippines country manager Leni Olmedo said, “There is a big gap between the recommended and the actual consumption amount of fruits and vegetables.” Dr. Adonis Garcia, pediatrician and Amway independent business owner, added that “we have to have a wide spectrum of the fruits and vegetables, not just the green leafy ones.”

According to Olmedo, the best way to get these phytonutrients is to eat fruits and vegetables. But she said: “Unfortunately, fruits and vegetables are either not widely available, or we are unsure of their sources. Our preparation and cooking habits further diminish [their nutritional value].” She added that in these cases people would need supplements to substitute for them.