5 a day

[lolly]

So who follows this? I see as a good start to getting healthy and drinking 8 glasses of water.

I was wondering...

How long before you noticed difference in your body (skin, physical, energy)?

I would love to see what other people have experienced and any tips they may have to stick to it.

[Cron]

One of the things that always confused me about '5 a day' was serving size.
Sometimes a serving is as little as 1/2 cup.

As far as water goes, a more precise metric is to get at least 2 qts of water a day, more if you exercise or are losing weight.

I just fill up a plastic bottle in the morning at work and make it a point to drain it before I leave. This makes it very easy to track.

For the first week it feels like you are going to the bathroom a lot and you are, but you adjust.

I started feeling better in about a week. I've encouraged friends to do this who have gotten rid of problems with heart burn they have had for months go away.

[Angela]

I fill up and empty my liter bottle twice a day, plus half a liter with lunch, plus all the water I want before, during, and after my workouts. I do go to the bathroom a lot, but that works for me as a needed incentive to get up and move around, since I can get so married to my computer during the day.

Energy improves right away (and really dissipates if I'm slack)

Skin feels much better when I'm flowy, but that doesn't show up as quickly

General vitality and suppleness -- huge difference immediately.

[lolly]

Thanks for feedback. I must try follow the advice i get here becuase i have energy slumps everyday at plus minus the same time.

Will start tomorrow.
Must start tomorrow.

[Mark Lapierre]

Umm, 5 a day of what? (I'm potentially missing something obvious here, but well, if it is obvious, I'm oblivious )

As for water, I drink at least 2L per day, plus around 4 mugs of green tea. The diuretic effect of the caffeine in the tea varies from day to day so I adjust for that too. I have an 800ml water bottle sitting right next to my keyboard at my desk and just keep taking sips all day. And it's always on the table/bench nearby when I'm at home.

I don't notice anything but an increase in thirst if I don't drink that much water. No change in energy levels (either up or down), though I suspect that's due to my difficulties in sleeping. And lack of aerobic exercise. And the fact that I'm sitting in front of a computer most of the day. My energy levels are fine when I'm at home, moving around constantly, or out visiting friends. It's when I'm at work and not actively engaged in work that I feel tired. Our energy levels are affected by many complex systems aren't they?

[Erock]

In Freakonomics by Steven Levitt, he has a section where he is discussing conventional wisdom and how at times it is inaccurate:

Crime didn’t keep soaring in the 1990s, money alone doesn’t win elections, and—surprise—drinking eight glasses of water a day has never actually been shown to do a thing for your health.

Apparently he couldn't find a study that showed any positive benefits of drinking a lot of water.

Erock

[lolly]

I am lil worried here that some of you seem confused by 5 a day so maybe i should explain a bit. I am talking about fruits and vegetables. We should be having at least 5 fruits and veggetables per a day but more is better.

Why did it seem to lose some people but it would explain the slow response or maybe no one is interested in this sought of health.

[Rosi]

Hi Lolly,

I started making a conscious effort to eat more fruit and vegetables at the beginnig of the year. At first it wasn't easy to always have 5 pieces but now I find I almost always have more than 5.

I start by having a piece of fruit with my breakfast. At lunch (work canteen) I have swapped pasta or rice or potatoes for an extra portion of vegetables. I also drink 1.5 to 2 litres water each day.

I have found that more vegetables and fruit combined with less pasta, rice and potatoes have also helped me loose a bit of weight. I've lost about about 7 pounds which is fine for me as I was not over weight but a little bit heavier than I wanted to be.

My partner says he can't see the weight loss much but he can see that I'm happier and bouncier than before. It's been a really positive change in my lifestyle. I don't feel so sleepy after lunch and generally feel more active and happy.

[Jessica Adlin]

I think eating a minimum of 5-a-day is a great core to a good nutritious meal plan (along with an adequate amount of protein, some healthy fats and you are all set!). Fruits are great...so tasty, but is really vegetables that pack a nutrient-dense punch.

I think we should all brainstorm ways of getting as many of these health-promoting, age-defying foods into our diet every day. Any ideas?

If you are interested, I just posted a three part series on the importance of veggies in our diet and vegetable juicing as a way increase our intake:

» Reap the benefits of fresh veggies - try juicing.


Seek health-

Jess

[Jessica Adlin]

A note about water:

Yes, it did come out recently that there was no basis for the 8-glasses of water each day. That is taking it a bit to far, however. There is some method behind the madness...nutritionists use long tedious calculations to determine the amount of water lost via urine, sweat, etc, and how much our bodies need based on size, sex, age, health status, activity factors. The 8 glasses/day comes from this calculation...a population average (once again). Some of us need more, some need less, based on lots of things.

Interestingly enough, our diet to some extent, determines our need for other fluids. A diet high in fruits and veggies need less water than a diet high in refined foods. Of course,

So, is much simpler to give a basic guideline of 8 glasses/day (or just drink lots of water), than to figure it out to the ml. In that, 2 liters/day with added water for exercise, heat, etc is a good rule of thumb.

Wow, this discussion makes me thirsty for a nice tall, cool glass of purified water....ahhh.

[lolly]

Well done to rosi for making the decision to improve your chances of getting healthly.

Jessica, i just started reading the article from the link you posted at it sounds very interesting. What about juicer and which is the best jucier you would suggest i use or anyone could use?

[bossb]

I used to drink alot of carbonated soft drinks and caffeine, as a result I suffered for it by feeling like crap after the effects wore off. Made for a very long day.

Once I began to just drink water whenever I got thirsty, the body began to reward me with alot more energy and just a general "Damn, I feel alot better now".

Try not to pound down water as part of some "required servings", cause yeah the water intake should also factor in things such as fruits and what not. Just listen to your body, whenever you're thirsty, have a glass, just make it water and I'm sure you'll feel alot more energized and I suppose happier.

[taylor2]

i went on a diet in oct. of 2006.I started drinking 3-32 oz. jugs of water daily and i feel wonderful.then i turned raw foodist and i have lost 65 pounds now.all since oct.06.it is great. i feel way better. i eat lots of fruits and veggies everyday. for once in my life my nails are growing out and feel hard.use to when i my nails grow...i could bend them backwards as they were like paper.taylor2

[lolly]

That is very impressive taylor2 and also may motive a lot of people. It has most defintely motived me.

bossb, your achievement also gives me some motivation.

I hope that if i start with one improvement for example more water and then more on to the next. It'll all become habits.

I stoped drinking sodas about 3 weeks ago. cutting out soda is my first step im improvement.

[Jessica Adlin]

Hey Lolly...good question about juicers. I have tried a few different kinds out over the years. My favorite is the Omega 8003. It is a singe-gear type juicer, which produces the tastiest and most nutritious juice.

Not to bore you with my posts, but here is an article about choosing a juicer which goes over the various kinds of juicers: » How to pick a vegetable juicer

Here's to good health!

Jess

[taylor2]

good luck lolly-no matter what u do -like u stopping soda is very progressive.good for u.just taking any step is on the way to change.hugs and good luck.taylor2

[lolly]

Thank you. Well i suppose i can only try and hope to succeed.

[Andrew Brunelle]

When I was a small child, around 10 or so, I had this computer game called 5-a-day, sponsored by the Dole company. It encouraged eating healthy foods,five fruits or vegetables, and eight glasses of water a day. My challenge was to attempt to do all of that in one meal...

[jbischke]

I'm shooting for about "25 a day" right now.

A few things that have helped...

1. Do a huge salad. And vary the veggies you add. I'll make a gigantic salad and eat it over the course of an hour or so while I'm working. Mmm...

2. Do green smoothies. I combine a few fruits and a few veggies in the morning with some other stuff to get a bunch of servings right out of the gate.

3. Based your meals around the veggies with other stuff being thought of as side items. Got this from Tony Robbins. Really helps.

Not quite to my goals yet but I think I'm getting closer.

And I've never felt better!

[Lauxa]

I'm about halfway through a 30-day trial for 5 veggies a day. The main thing that has helped with this is green smoothies. I often get 4-5 servings from the green leafy veggies in the smoothies. Usually my smoothies contain:

- 4 cups green leafy veggies
- 1 16-oz bag frozen fruit
- 1 banana
- 3 cups raw milk
- (plan to start adding raw eggs)

There are all different recipes so you can experiment. This makes about 2 large glasses of green smoothie. I drink the green smoothie throughout the day and then eat some snacks, and then have a veggie with my dinner and I am done.

I like the smoothies better than juicing; it is easier to clean a blender than a juicer and you get all the fiber. I have the Back to Basics professional smoothie maker, which runs about $90 and it works very well so far. When that breaks, I plan to get a VitaMix for about $400.

The main benefits I have noticed are decreased arthritis pains (my hands are very stiff and also my hip) and increased energy level. I don't have a problem with weight, but I don't think this is good for weight loss unless you also restrict calories.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by lolly

I am lil worried here that some of you seem confused by 5 a day so maybe i should explain a bit. I am talking about fruits and vegetables. We should be having at least 5 fruits and veggetables per a day but more is better.

Here in Australia, it's plugged as 7-a-day - 5 serves of vegies + 2 serves of fruit...

[lolly]

Well I have been really good with drinking more water these days, now its just the fruits and veggies. This whole week I drank at least 3x 750ml bottloes of water daily.

So I would say I am on the right track to a healthly lifestyle.

[Cron]

Cool site showing what 5 a day looks like:
Limes & Lycopene » Blog Archive » What actually is five serves?