ATLANTA – September is National Fruits and Veggies – More Matters Month – and the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), is stressing the importance of Georgians incorporating fruits and vegetables into their daily diet.

“Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in calories and provide essential nutrients and dietary fiber,” said Dr. Kimberly Redding, Director of DCH’s Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Programs. “It is recommended most people consume the minimum of two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables per day.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2009 “State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetable,” only 14 percent of adults in the United States consume the national objective of two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily. Georgia falls slightly below the national average with 13.3 percent of adults and 7.9 percent of adolescents meeting the national objective for fruit and vegetable consumption. The following are benefits of adding more fruits and veggies to your diet:

Reduce your risk of chronic disease – as part of a healthy diet, fruits and veggies have the potential to reduce risk of diabetes, some cancers and possibly cardiovascular disease

All forms matter – you have the choice of canned, fresh, frozen, 100 percent juice or even dried

It’s super convenient – many fruits and veggies need little to no preparation to be enjoyed. Just grab and go!

They are easy to enjoy – many fruits and veggies can be purchased already cut up, either fresh or frozen, saving you more time to enjoy them

Help manage your weight – most fruits and veggies are low in calories plus they provide essential nutrients and fiber