With so much focus on meal prep and macros - how is your micronutrient intake going? And did you know that there is a gold standard number of serves, as well as a benchmark for the variety of intake that we should aim for as humans? What we eat greatly impacts how good we feel and to keep you informed, we've rounded up some of the key stats related to fruit and veggies below. If energy, vitality and strong immunity sound good to you… read on.
Micronutrients impact energy levels.
Fatigue is a common issue. Research tells us that how clearly we think and how much energy we have is directly linked to dietary deficiencies. From B vitamins to vitamin C and Zinc, the foods we eat dictate how much support we get on a cellular level, which means it pays to bridge the gaps daily.
Plant diversity feeds the microbiome.
Did you know: the gold standard for a healthy microbiome that produces happy hormones, regulates weight management and keeps bloating to a minimum is 30 different plant varieties per week? PSA: If you struggle to eat enough variety each week, our new product Daily Essentials boasts 30+ plants per scoop! You can thank us later and place an order from 1 September.
4 out of 5 Aussies don’t eat enough veggies each day.
The CSIRO found that 4 out of 5 Aussie adults don’t meet the MINIMUM servings of veggies per day for health… and those numbers are even worse for kids. With diet being the NUMBER ONE most impactful factor when it comes to the development of serious preventable disease, this stat is not one to play with. It pays to increase your variety and serves to avoid heart disease, diabetes and metabolic disorders in the future.
Eating more plants supports gut heath.
Our bodies are more bugs than human cells - just ask the microbiome. This community of bacteria, fungi and other little friends is actually driving the bus when it comes to many aspects of health so it makes sense to support their good work. From creating happy hormones, to protecting us from nasty colds and flus, and even playing a role in whether we feel great in a body con outfit (looking at you, bloating) this bug community does a lot that we’re grateful for. Their favourite food? You guessed it: plants. Consuming more plant fibre to feed the good bugs will in turn improve your own vitality. It’s a you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours kind of system.
Eating more plants improves immunity and reduces oxidative stress.
Did you know: brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are much beloved by the immune system? And for good reason. Ingredients you'll find in our new product Daily Essentials (like pomegranate, beetroot and sea veg greens) all contain high levels of antioxidants - the micronutrients that improve inflammation and support the function and integrity of immune cells. Antioxidants have been proven to reduce the impact of a cold or flu on the body so much, that thay are used by endurance athletes to kick a cold and keep training. Studies have shown that supplementing antioxidants can mitigate the impact of stress on these athletes as well as reduce the symptoms.
Eating more fruit and veg helps you live longer.
You can’t build a house without bricks and this applies to a vibrant, energised body too. When we don’t give our bodies enough of the tools they need to thrive, we experience the fall out. Think: fatigue, illness and poor gut health. At a minor level this is an inconvenience, but over time it may become very serious and the stats agree. The global burden of low fruit and vegetable consumption per year (back in 2005) was identified to be approximately 2.635 million deaths. Conversely, the globally identified “blue zones’ where an exceptionally high number of people reach an old and healthy age all champion a plant forward diet. The evidence is clear on this one: more plants = longer, healthier lives.
Our detox systems need micronutrients to work.
Our bodies have incredible detox facilities in place that work tirelessly for us every day - but the catch is: they need the right ingredients for the job. B vitamins, magnesium and antioxidants like vitamin C + Zinc are all important for detoxification and are also all water soluble (if we don't replenish them daily, they are pee'd out of the body so we need to keep the intake up.) Hitting the targets of 5 serves of veg and 30 plants per week is the key to a well oiled detox response. If this sounds like a struggle, our new range launching 1 Sept will be your ticket to vibrant energy!