Fruits or vegetables, which is better for you? Nutrition expert Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom says, "we always hear five fruits and vegetables a day. Now, some people don’t like one or the other. It’s perfectly fine to have all fruits or all vegetables. If you do take all of one category, you want to have a mixture of color, ‘cause that’s gonna get you the widest variety of nutrients."

Fruits and vegetables are important foods because they provide essential nutrients, like vitamins, minerals and fiber, along with disease fighting compounds, like lycopene (a chemical that gives foods a red color), resveratrol (found in red grapes, wine and peanuts) and anthocyanin (found in blueberries, blackberries, cherries, kiwi, plums and eggplant).

A diet that includes plenty of fruits and veggies is associated with a reduced risk for obesity and many chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Research shows higher intake of fruit and vegetables is associated with lower rates of heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.

Health experts recommend eating at least five servings of some combination of fruits and vegetables every day. Ideally, for the most health benefits, Americans should eat closer to nine servings/day. However, the American Dietetic Association estimates 70 percent of Americans don’t get the minimum five servings a day.