If "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," what about other fruits and vegetables. Can they help fight cancer, heart disease, and diabetes? Heath Benefits:

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        Apples

        Apples can help lower blood cholesterol, improve bowel function, offer cancer and heart disease prevention, keep the lungs healthy, and even assist with weight loss. In a recent study, researchers found surprising results that eating apples during pregnancy may help reduce the risk of children developing asthma and/or allergies. "The study speculated that apples may be beneficial because they contain flavonoids, which have been associated with a reduced risk of asthma in other studies."

 

        Blackberries

        Based on a study conducted by researchers from the US and Norway which was published in the July 2006 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, blackberries "have the highest antioxidant content per serving [5.75 millimoles] of any food tested and have important cancer-fighting properties." In fact, scientists have found that blackberry consumption can decrease the risk of cancer in the mouth, esophagus, and colon, with studies being conducted to determine if it can also prevent skin cancer.

 

        Blueberries

        Blueberries provide health-protecting antioxidants (2.68 millimoles per serving), in addition to vitamins A, C, and E; potassium; magnesium; and fiber. Specific health-related properties include cardiovascular, vision, and macular degeneration protection; helping to improve short-term memory (good "brain food") and gastrointestinal health; and the prevention of urinary tract infections.

 

        Dark Chocolate

        Dark chocolate may provide health benefits so long as it is consumed in moderation (about an ounce of dark chocolate a day or less) seems to help low high blood pressure, keep the blood flowing, and the heart healthy.

 

        Red Wine

        Drinking a glass of red wine on a daily basis could produce some healthy benefits in terms of cancer prevention (prostate, colon, melanoma, and leukemia) decreasing the risk of heart disease, and helping to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure. The antioxidants in red wine may also help protect against and prevent disease. Unfortunately, too much of a good thing can produce harmful effects ranging from liver disease to severe acid reflux, so exercising moderation when drinking wine is always a good idea.

 

        Salmon/Fish Oil

        Salmon is one of the healthiest foods a person can eat due to the large number of benefits it provides the body, especially omega-3 fatty acid, which may decrease the progression rate of Alzheimer's disease. In fact, a clinical trial is being conducted at the University of California, San Diego, using docosahexaenoic acid (a type of omega-3) to find hard evidence that this is the case. Cardiovascular prevention, the decreasing of triglycerides, obesity prevention, cancer prevention, inflammation reduction, and sunburn protection are just some of the many benefits salmon can provide. Just like apples, some evidence suggests it's beneficial for expectant mothers to eat fish during pregnancy to reduce the risk that their children will develop asthma and other allergies.

 

        Sweet Potatoes

        Sweet potatoes are actually full of rich antioxidants and have been classified by food researchers as an antidiabetic food due to their ability to help "stabilize blood sugar levels and lower insulin resistance." Some other health benefits of sweet potatoes include the prevention of atherosclerosis, diabetic heart disease, and colon cancer due to the high amounts of vitamins A (beta-carotene), C, and B6, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, and fiber found in sweet potatoes.

 

        According to two studies published in the April 2007 issue of the American Journal of Prevention Medicine, "fewer than 11% [of Americans] are meeting the current guidelines for both fruits [two servings a day] and vegetables [three servings a day]." Perhaps it's time to consider other strategies to make the public aware of how important fruits and vegetables are.