Do you heed to healthy eating advice?

A recent health survey across England showed that many do not eat enough fruits and vegetables to fight against cancer and other serious diseases. The survey included nearly 15,600 adults and 4000 children. Very interesting but disturbing trends were revealed by the study.

The survey indicated that there is a strong link between healthy eating and household income. Almost 40% of women in the highest earning households eat five portions a day compared to just 20% in the poorest households. It was also found that women generally eat more fruit and vegetables than men and are more likely to eat five portions a day. Older people were also much more likely to follow the eating advice compared to younger people. While one in three people between the ages of 55 and 64 ate five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, only one in five of those aged between 16 and 24 and just one in eight children between the age of five and 15.

One of the most disturbing findings of the study was that despite the fact that three out of four women and almost half of men said they knew they should eat five portions per day, it was found that women eat only 3.7 portions per day while men eat only 3.4 portions. People were also much more likely to eat fruit than vegetables.

This study was conducted as a precursor to the British Government's efforts to get people to eat more fruit and vegetables, as a way of cutting deaths from heart disease, cancer and other conditions.