5 a day was a compromise, it should be 10 a day
The British Department of Health recommends that we eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a day. However, the Japanese government, recommends to its citizens to eat 13 portions of fruit and veg a day.
So why should the Japanese need more fruit and veg?
“There must be a balance between what is healthy for the British public and what is feasible”.
Spokeswoman for the UK Department of Health
In other words, it would be impossible to ask a British person to eat 10 portions of fruit and veg (even though a study has shown that 10 portions provides an increased protection against all forms of mortality and would prevent 7.8 million premature deaths in the UK)
How much is a portion?
One serving equals 80 grams of fruit or vegetables – a small banana, a pear or three teaspoons of spinach or peas, two pieces of broccoli, an apple etc. In Japan a portion is 50g but even so, 13 portions adds to up a lot more (650g vs 400g)
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