Eating Right for the Right Reasons: 5 Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables That Go Beyond Weight Loss

For many people, losing weight can be a powerful motivating force for eating right. But for most of us, being healthy is a far more powerful motivator. A recent article in Time magazine nicely summarized five ways that fruits and vegetables do your mind and body good — all of which have nothing to do with weight loss.[1]

1.  As you may remember if you read this blog regularly, eating more fruits and vegetables can boost your mood. In fact, three separate studies have come to this conclusion. The largest one, published in Social Indicators Research, found that seven daily servings of fruits and vegetables increased people’s happiness.  Another study from New Zealand found that when folks ate more fruits and vegetables on any given day, they felt better that day and the next day. There’s some good feedback from the body!

2.  Eating well can also improve brain health. A study from the National Institutes of Health recently found brain health benefits from the Mediterranean diet, which features a high intake of fruits and vegetables (along with beans, fish, whole grains, healthy fats, and moderate consumption of wine.) People who consistently followed this diet were 36 percent less likely to have infarcts, or small areas of dead brain tissue. Other research from the National Institute of Aging discovered that Mediterranean diet adherents were 28 percent less likely to suffer from mild cognitive impairment associated with aging.

3.  Research has shown that eating fruits and vegetables can enhance skin health, giving you a rosy glow. A study at the University of St. Andrews found that after participants increased their consumption of fruits and veggies by three servings a day for just six weeks, they were rated as more attractive than those who skimped on produce. Many people have experienced this effect from taking Juice Plus+, too, and a 2012 study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology explains why: the phytonutrients in Juice Plus+ help improve skin hydration, skin thickness, and circulation in skin capillaries. http://www.karger.com/Article/Pdf/330521

4.  One particular vegetable in juice form seems to help you work out harder. A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that 16 ounces of organic beetroot juice a day for six days helped athletes cycle for 16 percent longer than those in the placebo group. Beets are one of the vegetables featured in Juice Plus+ Orchard & Garden Blends.

5.  At the end of the day, it’s good to know that eating well can also help you get a good night’s sleep. A study from Taiwan found eating kiwis an hour before bed helped subjects fall asleep faster, sleep more soundly, and sleep longer. Similarly, tart cherry juice has been found to improve sleep quality and efficiency. Other foods that have been found to improve sleep are fish, whole grains, nuts, and dark leafy greens.  

With all these benefits in store, we would all do well to increase our consumption of fruits and vegetables. Getting seven servings a day isn’t easy for everyone, though, especially on particularly hectic days. That’s where Juice Plus+ comes in. While there’s no substitute for fresh produce, Juice Plus+ can help you bridge the gap between what you should eat and what you do eat, day in and day out.


[1] Sass, Cynthia. 5 reasons to eat healthier that have nothing to do with your weight. Time Magazine. Sept. 21, 2014. http://time.com/3393720/5-reasons-to-eat-healthier-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-your-weight/