Updated: 2/25/2020
Despite increased media attention to healthy eating and healthy living, Americans have actually reduced
their consumption of fruits and veggies since 2000, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey and this NPR article.
The last decade’s public health goal was to get 75% of Americans over age two to at least two fruit servings a day and to get 50% of us to consume three or more vegetable servings a day.
The 2009 findings, however, note that only 32.5% of adults eat enough fruit, and only 26.3% consume enough veggies per day. Believe it or not, not a single state has hit the intended goals.
Which regions need improvement? The District of Columbia, where just 40.2% of individuals ate enough fruit in 2009, a 5.5% drop from 2000. In Tennessee, only 33% of residents hit the three-a-day goal.
With rising tooth decay and obesity rates across the nation, Americans may want to further increase educational measures about the importance of including fruits and veggies in their daily diets. Eating healthily, coupled with proper exercise and tooth maintenance, can go a long way in reducing these disturbing trends.
Those afflicted with tooth decay due to the consumption of processed sugars and carbohydrates may want to investigate a dental savings plan to aid in repairing the damage.
