Most Americans aren't used to eating this many vegetables on a regular basis. Yet in many countries around the world this would not seem like much. Research continues to show the benefit of eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables to reduce risk of several types of cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases. These questions are often raised. And the answer always is variety.
Vegetables are powerhouses of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fiber.
Yet these substances are in different combinations in different vegetables. To get the widest range of helpful components in your diet, it is best to choose many different kinds of vegetables. Some vegetables can be grouped together because their nutrient content tends to be similar. They also contain many other nutrients, including riboflavin, folate, iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium. The deep yellow vegetables supply vitamin A in the form of carotenes.