Eat Florida Citrus for Your Health
According to a new study from Michigan State University, most Americans do not lead healthy lifestyles by choice. What are those choices? All of the experts agree that there are at least four things any able-bodied person can do to keep himself in fine fettle. They include:
1. Not smoking.
2. Exercising 30 minutes or more three days a week.
3. Eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
4. Maintaining a healthy weight.
In the study, which included over 150,000 adults, only 3 percent followed all four vital steps for a healthy lifestyle. The researchers were shocked, especially since smoking rates have declined precipitously in recent years. But it was not the smokers that ruined it for everyone. In fact, only one in four participants puffed up on a regular basis. Far more of them came up short on exercise and dietary guidelines.
Less than one-quarter of respondents ate the suggested five servings of fruit and vegetables every day or exercised regularly. Not surprisingly, around forty percent of them failed to maintain a healthy weight, which is actually better than the national average. America is currently facing an obesity epidemic of unprecedented proportions, and the worst part is that it is completely preventable.
Unlike smoking, eating is something all of us must do to survive. Unfortunately, most of us are doing too much of it and/or consuming the wrong foods. The unhealthy combination has transformed a formerly fit nation into the fattest country on the face of the Earth. About two-thirds of Americans are overweight, while one-third are officially obese. This increased rotundity is taking a serious, sometimes deadly toll on the population. In fact, obesity is now the leading cause of preventable death in the United States!
What can we do? Eating the right foods is the first step. As we mentioned, only around one in five Americans consume enough fruits and vegetables. Naturally fat and cholesterol free, citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit are readily available at any local supermarket or fruit stand. Although juices are fine, we recommend that you enjoy them in their natural form.
Why? No, there’s nothing wrong with a glass of OJ or other fruit juice. But the fact is that nutrients are lost when fruit goes from solid to liquid form. This includes antioxidants like vitamin C and Lycopene and important macro-nutrients like dietary fiber. At the end of the day, the only way to get the full health benefits from fruit is to eat oranges, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits it as nature intended.
Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves
At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.
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