The Most Healthy Fruits & Vegetables

Although all fruits and vegetables are healthy, some pack more of a nutritional punch than others. In general, you need to consume five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day. The exact serving number varies depending on your age, gender and activity level and can be calculated by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's web page dedicated to the importance of fruits and vegetables, listed in the resource section. Once you learn how many fruits and vegetables you should eat each day, you can begin to incorporate a few of the following produce superstars into your daily diet.

Dark Leafy Greens

Dark leafy green vegetables, like kale and collard greens, contain many chronic-disease-fighting nutrients. They are high calcium to help prevent osteoporosis, a condition of weakening bones. They are also loaded in cancer-fighting antioxidants, and their high chlorophyll content detoxifies your body of impurities. Leafy green vegetables contain high amounts of vitamins A, C and K and have the most nutrients per calorie of all vegetables.

Blueberries and Other Berries

Blueberries contain the most antioxidants of all fruits. Antioxidants are substances that fight and neutralize cancer-causing free radicals in your body. Blueberries also contain 14 percent of the recommended daily intake for dietary fiber and almost 25 percent of the recommended daily intake for vitamin C. Other berries, including strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, are also very high in cancer-fighting antioxidants and dietary fiber.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a healthy, comforting root vegetable. Their high amounts of beta-carotene can help fight inflammatory conditions like arthritis. They also contain large amounts of fiber, vitamin C and manganese. Sweet potatoes are high in antioxidants that fight free radicals.

Sea Vegetables

Sea vegetables are healthy vegetables that are often consumed only if you go out for sushi or Japanese food. Popular types of sea vegetables include the nori that is used to wrap sushi, dulse, kelp, arame, wakame and kombu. Sea vegetables are high in iodine, a mineral that supports your thyroid function. They also contain large quantities of calcium, protein and vitamin C.