"Vegetable" is gone! 80% of Chinese people fail to meet the daily intake of 3 vegetables and 2 fruits

The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that "insufficient fruit and vegetable intake" is a risk factor for death and is closely related to gastrointestinal cancer, ischemic heart disease, and stroke. my country's daily dietary guidelines recommend at least 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit per day, but the latest survey shows that as many as 80% of Chinese people do not meet the standard.

Eating more fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, the latest survey shows that 80% of Chinese people do not even meet the recommended daily intake of 3 vegetables and 2 fruits.

Three servings of cooked vegetables are about one and a half bowls, and two servings of fruit are the size of two adult fists. The National Health Administration today released the latest "Telephone Survey on Health Behavior Risk Factors," which surveyed 16,985 Taiwanese about their fruit and vegetable intake. 43.4% ate three servings of vegetables a day, and 28.5% ate two servings of fruit a day. However, only 18% consumed at least three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit a day at the same time, which means that more than 80% of Taiwanese do not implement this practice.

In terms of gender, the rates of women consuming vegetables, fruits, or eating the recommended 3 vegetables and 2 fruits are higher than those of men; when looking at age groups, middle-aged people aged 45 to 64 have more consistent health awareness and behavioral practices, so the rates of those who meet the recommended 3 vegetables and 2 fruits are higher than those of younger or older age groups.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber and vitamins. However, the survey found that students who are still growing have the lowest intake of fruits and vegetables, with 36.8% eating three servings of vegetables a day, 22.5% eating two servings of fruits, and only 11.3% eating the full three vegetables and two fruits. The National Health Administration believes that in addition to students' picky eating habits, eating out frequently is also an important factor.

When analyzing by city and county, more people in Kaohsiung City and Chiayi City consume 3 vegetables and 2 fruits every day, while the ratio is lower in Keelung City, Nantou County, and Yunlin County. When divided by geographical area, residents in the southern region (Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung), both male and female, have a higher ratio of 3 vegetables and 2 fruits per day.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission pointed out that according to research from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, people who eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day have half the risk of cancer compared to those who eat less than two servings on average. The difference is particularly significant in cancers of the mouth, esophagus, throat, stomach, and colorectum. A research report from the European Union also shows that if more than six servings of fruits and vegetables are consumed a day, cardiovascular disease can be reduced by 25% and cancer can be reduced by 2 to 10%.

Therefore, the National Health Administration calls on the public to regard 3 vegetables and 2 fruits as the minimum standard for health care. In addition to actively implementing it, it also encourages people to increase their intake of vegetables and fruits.