The two leading causes of death in the United States are cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to the National Institutes of Health. These diseases have been correlated with diet and lifestyle choices. Following a healthy diet and including daily exercise will reduce the risk of these diseases. A diet full of fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots can help promote health.
Benefits
A diet including fruits and vegetables can decrease the risk of chronic disease. Apples and carrots contain phytochemicals that reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The Nurses Health Study indicates that increased fruit and vegetable intake resulted in a 21 percent reduction in cancer risk among 77,000 women. Carrots contain the carotenoid beta-carotene, which acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight disease by combating free radical production. Antioxidants in apples also help lower cholesterol levels and prevent formation of cancer cells, according to the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study, as cited in a 2004 article in "Nutrition Journal." Carrots and apples provide many vitamins, such as vitamins A, C and B6. Carrots provide 30 percent of the vitamin A in American diets, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Significance
Many diseases plague Americans due to unhealthy diets. An unhealthy diet increases the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, coronary artery disease, obesity and high cholesterol. These diseases cost the United States and its citizens billions of dollars yearly. Statin drugs alone, that help treat high cholesterol, cost 30 billion dollars per year, according to Smart Planet. In addition, obesity costs the United States 92 billion dollars a year. Eating carrots and apples can help prevent these diseases. They contain few calories, but have many vitamins and minerals. A healthy diet including carrots and apples can prevent 30 percent of all cancers, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Considerations
Eating a diet of only apples and carrots will not provide complete nutrition. You may want to include a multivitamin to provide nutrition insurance. However, multivitamins do not provide protein and fat. These macronutrients need to be included in the diet from other food sources.
Peeling the skin off carrots and apples lowers the nutritional value. The skin contains many nutrients, including fiber. Fiber helps eliminate waste in the body. Apple peels also contain more antioxidants than apples that have been skinned. Leave the skin on these foods to obtain the full nutritional benefit.
Potential
A diet high in fruits and vegetables can help prevent obesity. Fruits and vegetables naturally contain few calories, which helps control weight. A medium-sized apple contains 60 calories and a 100 gram serving of carrots contains 41 calories. You can replace a high fat dessert such as cake with an apple to save many calories.
Warnings
Nutrient deficiencies can occur if you only eat apples and carrots. Apples and carrots do not provide a source of macronutrients like fats and protein. Fats provide energy, insulate cells and absorb fat-soluble vitamins. The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K are essential in the diet. The body also needs protein to function properly. Protein helps build, maintain and repair muscle and provides energy to help fuel daily activities.
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