Posted by kathryn in Nutrition

Last week the Chief Health Officer of NSW released a report into the health of NSW people. While we’re living longer, the levels of chronic diseases, like cardiovascular disease and diabetes are on the increase. Moreover, the number of overweight and obese people in NSW is growing, up to 57.5% of men, 42.3% of women and nearly a quarter of school children. We’re also seeing a rise in lifestyle related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. So, we’re living longer, but we’re less healthy.

Unhealthy behaviours, like smoking, not having enough exercise and diet, contribute significantly to the development of these health problems. These are the causes of disease that we have control over. As the report states:

Good health enhances the quality of human life and benefits the community. The opportunity to participate in and contribute to society is maximised in a healthy population. Organisational, economic, and environmental factors have major influences on the health of individuals. However, health-related behaviours also contribute significantly to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, and other conditions that account for much of the burden of morbidity and mortality in later life.

Startling for me, as a nutritionist, are the stats on fruit and veg intake. The Australian dietary guidelines are to have five servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day. In NSW only 5% of men and 10% of women are eating the recommended vegetable intake . We’re slightly better at eating fruit, with 45% of men and 58% of women eating at least two pieces daily, although these still aren’t great figures. With children, only 20% are eating enough vegies. At the same time, 60% of boys and 40% of girls drink at least one cup of soft drink per day.

There is overwhelming evidence for the benefits of eating vegetables. This is not some weird, hippy, tofu-eating, vegetarian behaviour, it’s something we all need to do to maximise our health both now and in the future . Five servings of vegies is about 3 cups, that’s all. It’s having a good mix of salads in your sandwich at lunch-time and then a potato, half a carrot, a few green beans and about 3 broccoli florets in the evening.

So, how many servings of vegies do you eat every day? Not sure, well why not keep a vegie diary over the next week? For seven days, note down how many servings you eat each day. Remember that a serving is equal to one cup of leafy vegetables (lettuce, rocket, spinach, herbs, etc) and half a cup of all the others.

For more on eating vegetables, have take a look at the LImes & Lycopene vegetables category.

14 December, 2006