What is 5 a Day ?
The burden of diet-related ill health has been well documented over the years, and according to the BMA (2016) it contributes to more disease than physical inactivity, alcohol and smoking combined. Premature death in the United Kingdom is estimated at 70,000 yearly, with poor diet having the largest impact on the NHS at around £6 billion annually, this is greater than smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity (BMA, 2016). Therefore, experts are increasingly worried about the impact of poor diet on the country’s health as this is a significant cause of ill health and premature mortality, as well as a strain on the NHS.
The ‘five a day’ started as a public health campaign in the USA in the late 1980s; it has since spread across 25 countries and was adopted by the UK Government’s Department of Health in 2000. These recommendations were originally introduced in the UK with the aim of improving public awareness about the need to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, whilst at the same time increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in the population to at least five 80g portions per day. However, despite the protective effects of fruit and vegetables existing data shows their intakes are still insufficient in many countries, especially developing ones, therefore strategies to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption are fundamental for health promotion among the population.
What can I eat as part of my 5 a day?
Remember, fruit and vegetables don’t always have to be fresh to count as a portion of your 5 a day, and you can include them as part of a meal.
- Frozen fruit and vegetables count towards your 5 A Day.
- Tins and cans of fruit and vegetables – in natural juice or water, with no added sugar or salt.
- Fruit and vegetables you use in dishes such as soups, stews or maybe with pasta.
- A 30g portion of dried fruit, such as currants, dates, and sultanas, etc. counts towards your 5 A Day.
- Fruit and vegetables already contained in ready made convenience meals, soups and puddings can also be part of your 5 a day.
.
Advice on how much fruit and veg should be eaten every day varies hugely across the world.
For example, The World Health Organisation (2018) guidelines recommend at least 400g of fruit and vegetables a day. Belgium, Germany, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain and the UK all follow the WHO guidelines and have interpreted this as 5 portions a day. Other countries recommend more, for instance Canada advises 7-8 portions for women and 8-10 portions for a man- twice as much as the UK. Up-to-date scientific evidence offers a convincing case that a diet high in fruit and vegetables is a preventative measure against the risk of a wide range of diseases, including stroke coronary heart disease, and certain forms of cancer.
The Government recognise that the effects of nutrition and consuming the recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables will increase for the next twenty years. This is due to the far- reaching consequences of failing to consume the recommended 5 a day, coupled with the increase in the UK’s ageing population as a result of the post-war baby boom.
