Fruit and vegetables are considered healthy foods because they have been evidenced to protect from a number of diseases. Comparing fruit with vegetables is perhaps a little unfair because each category contains a range of varieties that can offer considerable different health effects. However, there are a few generalities that can be made in comparison. Generally, fruit contains more carbohydrates than vegetables. In particular, the simple sugar content of fruit is much higher than vegetables. Vegetables that do contain carbohydrates in high amounts are mainly the root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, parsnips and turnips. But the carbohydrate content of these vegetables is mainly starch. The fibre content of both fruit and vegetables is high, but the fibre type can be different. Vegetables tend to contain a lot of cellulose based fibre, whereas fruit can also contain pectins. The phytochemical content of fruits and vegetables can vary considerably, but both contain high amounts of carotenoids and polyphenol antioxidants.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, protect Yourself
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