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From:	Ryan (71.238.189.52)
Subject:	Re: Are veggies necessary if you can get all your vitamins and minerals from fruit
Date:	July 18, 2012 at 4:22 pm PST

In Reply to: Are veggies necessary if you can get all your vitamins and minerals from fruit posted by Kevin on July 15, 2012 at 4:48 pm:

How do you know that you are getting the correct amount of vitamins and minerals? Not too much, not too little, but an amount that puts the least strain on your body, but gives it enough of what it needs?

What I am saying is that there is no such thing as "enough" of various vitamins and minerals, except in reference to deficiency diseases. Most vitamins and minerals were discovered when people were deficient in one or more vitamin or mineral. Hence a recommended amount. Also, the nutritional picture is not complete, very little is actually known about nutrition, about the vitamins and minerals in food. There are many more vitamins and minerals is fruits and vegetables than the ones that scientists have isolated and analyzed in various foods.

Too much of vitamins and minerals (including those that have not been isolated, analyzed and closely studied by science) is detrimental to optimal functioning of the body. What the body does not need, it must work to remove.

The only way to get the right amount is to eat your foods in the correct proportions. This doesn't have to be done every day, but as an average over days, weeks, months, and years. 5% of your calories from leafy greens is a good rule of thumb, and this works out to about 1 large head/1 lb. of greens per 2000 calories.

Of course, the easiest way to get the right amount is to listen to what you body is telling you, to follow your cravings for sugar (eat fruit) or salt (eat leafy greens). You may only be craving fruit right now because you were previously on a high-salt diet. To correct this, do vigorous exercise and spend a good amount of time in the sun, sweating. Make sure you drink lots of clean water to replace lost fluids. Your body tends to hold on to sodium, but sweating will help to remove it. And get those greens in, at least 5% of your calories to keep up your minerals! Good luck!

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