The UK government has long recommended that people eat five portions or 400 grams of vegetables and fruit a day as this reduces our chances of developing heart disease, stroke and cancer, the plagues of modern society.
Groundbreaking Research Shows How Eating Vegetables Improve Health
A recent review by scientists at the School of Public Health, Imperial College London, has concluded that eating 800 grams a day has an even greater beneficial affect, reducing heart disease by 24%, stroke by 33%, cancer by 13%, and a 31% reduced risk of dying prematurely.
800 grams a day? That seems like a lot of vegetables, but this is exactly what most people following macrobiotic guidelines have been doing for years. If there is one thing we are good at, it is cooking a wide range of vegetables in many attractive and appetising recipes.
Daily Plant-Based Meals That Make A Difference
Here’s a picture of a lunch I made a few days ago, with couscous and sunflower seeds, a tempeh and carrot stew, fried kale and sesame seeds, and a grated carrot, beetroot and watercress salad with a home-made vegan mayonnaise. Yummy, and containing around 400 grams of vegetables, including the tempeh as it is made from beans which count for 1 portion of fruit and vegetables each day, this is keeping my heart, brain and whole body well.
Lowering Cholesterol And Other Health Benefits
The review also stated that eating a good amount of vegetables and fruit has clearly been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure, while boosting the health of blood vessels and the immune system. Particularly recommended are green vegetables like kale and spring greens, and yellow vegetables like carrots and squash, which have been shown to cut the risk of cancer.
In addition to this piece of research, a groundbreaking Japanese study which looked at the eating habits of over 70,000 people over a period of 18 years showed that a plant-based diet reduced the likelihood of premature death from cancer, heart-disease or any other reason.
How Easy Is It To Eat More Vegetables?
It is great to see modern science confirming what macrobiotics has been saying for decades, that through simple dietary and lifestyle changes we can do much ourselves to keep ourselves well, and avoid many of the serious degenerative illnesses which are so common in modern western society. With just a few changes in our diet, we can easily reduce the risk of dying prematurely. Have a look at these recipes and these short courses to help you further.
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