An interactive map by MailOnline has identified the areas in the United States with the highest proportion of adults who do not consume any fruit each day, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Eight states, mostly located in the South, have nearly half of their adult populations not consuming any fruit daily. The South has a history of poor fast food consumption, high obesity rates, and other negative dietary indicators.
'Fruitphobic' States in the US
Data from the 2021 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which surveyed 440,000 Americans across the country, reveals that nearly half of adults in eight US states do not consume a single piece of fruit per day.
The data was collected by asking participants how often they ate fruit during the past 30 days, excluding juices. For vegetables, they were asked how often they ate a green leafy or lettuce salad, with or without other vegetables.
Oklahoma had the highest proportion of people who did not eat at least one piece of fruit per day, at 48.7% of respondents. Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia rounded out the top five. All of these states were also among the most impoverished in the nation, with the highest poverty rates.
Low-income families are more likely to purchase ultra-processed foods and less likely to buy fruits and vegetables than those from wealthier households, according to a 2018 study from Johns Hopkins University that MailOnline cited. This is due to the lower cost of ultra-processed foods, as well as the higher palatability of convenience and processed foods, which contain more fats and sugars.
The Oklahoma Policy Institute's data showed that about one in six individuals is food insecure, while one in four employees earns less than the national poverty level.
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Importance of Eating Fruits Daily
A 2021 Harvard study reports the most effective combination of fruits and vegetables is two servings of fruits plus three servings of vegetables per day, for a total of five servings daily. Eating leafy green vegetables and fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C and beta carotene may play a role in preventing cancer.
Interestingly, eating more than five servings of fruits or vegetables per day did not seem to provide additional benefits in lowering the risk of death. Starchy vegetables like peas, corn, or potatoes, or drinking fruit juices did not have a significant effect on the risk of death either.
Moreover, minor changes to typical meals can help by adding more fruits and vegetables to the diet to prevent nutrient deficiency. A bowl of cereal with some blueberries or eggs and sautéed tomatoes, onions, and spinach for breakfast is also advisable.
Lunch could be a salad with your favorite fruits and vegetables, a cup of yogurt with strawberries, or a smoothie with kale and mango. For dinner, include a side salad or a large side of vegetables such as steamed broccoli or yellow squash and zucchini. Lastly, dessert could be fresh or frozen fruit as it is a delicious and healthful treat.
RELATED ARTICLE: Eating Fruits and Vegetables Prevent Premature Death from Cardiovascular Diseases, Study Suggests
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