Background:
Sufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables, as recommended by the World
Health Organization and Food and Agriculture of the United Nations, has been
greatly linked with a lowered risk of chronic/lifestyle diseases, digestive
problems, mental health problems, eye problems, high blood pressure and body
weight management. It is recommended for adults to eat at least five servings
of fruits and vegetables per day. Unfortunately, most Liberians do not follow
such a healthy dietary pattern. Be it as it may, this book focuses on the
health benefits of fruits and vegetables in Liberian cuisine.
Methods: For this narrative review, appropriate scientific articles were considered from mainly Google Scholar using the keywords health benefits, fruits, vegetables, Liberian cuisine, vitamins and minerals. An observational study was also conducted using mini nutrition assessment tool and descriptive analysis.
Results: In spite of the protective
effects of fruits and vegetables as suggested by existing data, most Liberians
still consume low amounts of them. This is evident by the observational study
conducted and the information gathered from secondary data sources. It is
important to deploy health education strategies to promote fruit and vegetable
consumption among Liberians.
Conclusion: It is obvious that the
eating patterns of most Liberians are unhealthy. The risks involved by not
including fruits and vegetables into the daily meals of Liberians are fatal and
could cause damages to several organs. Realizing the fact that medical bills
for treating lifestyle or chronic diseases are far more expensive than
practically handling those risk factors that contribute to their emergence, it
is fair enough for all Liberians to make great use of the fruits and vegetables
they consume on a seasonal basis.
Author(s) Details
Forkpah Pewee
University of Liberia,
Fendell Campus, Monrovia, Liberia.
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