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By Lily Raju

Remember when we were kids, we were always told by our parents and teachers to eat our fruits and vegetables? This is because besides meat and seafood that provides us with protein and other nutrients, the best way to get all vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients is by eating all kinds of fruits and vegetables. 

Most of us might only be consuming less than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. We tend to prefer meals that contain more protein and carbohydrates. This would lead to an unbalanced diet that would cause us to lack proper nutrients for our body. 

Fruits and vegetables are high in fibre, which keeps our digestive system healthy and prevents constipation. It is also important to consume fruits and vegetables that have different colours. Health professionals would call it “eat the rainbow”. Plants contain different pigments which are called phytonutrients and this gives them their unique colours. Different coloured plants would contain higher levels of specific nutrients for our health. 

If we are not consuming enough fruits and vegetables, it is never too late to make changes to our dietary habits. We could also minimise the risk of contracting diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart problems by doing so. 

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher