Just about every doctor on the planet will advise their patients to eat a good selection of fruits and vegetables each day in order to bolster their health, but for some Americans, it’s simply not that easy. A new report and map released by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) reveals which states across the United States are consuming enough nutrients and what influences their ability to do so.
Photo via Shutterstock
Availability of stores that offer a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables in any given town and state is a major factor in whether or not Americans are getting the nutrients they need. Unsurprisingly, California, New York, Florida, the District of Columbia and Oregon lead the fray in this department, while huge swaths of middle America, where – ironically – so much of our food is grown, lies in a massive food desert.
Farmer’s Markets are also essential, according to the CDC’s State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables. Vermont, Wyoming, Iowa, and New Hampshire have more than seven farmers markets per 100,000 state residents, which helps to explain why their consumption habits are so much healthier.
Nutrition assistance programs ensure that low income families can access fruits and vegetables too and states that accept Cash Value Vouchers go a long way to helping Americans eat well. The report is worth checking out for several reasons, most noteworthy of it is an outline of environmental and legislative policies that boost the growth, harvest and distribution of fruits and vegetables throughout the United States.
Via Fast.co
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