Extension Communications Extension 4-H Youth Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3630 (515) 294-9915

11/9/04

Contacts:
Kim Nanke, Coordinator of Lighten Up Iowa, (888) 777-881 extension 5, kim@iowagames.org
Tim Lane, Iowa Department of Public Health, (515) 281-7833, tlane@idph.state.ia.us
Ruth Litchfield, Ph.D., Food Science and Human Nutrition, (515) 294-9484, litch@iastate.edu
Diane Nelson, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-3178, dinelson@iastate.edu

Lighten Up Iowa Adds "Strive for Five" Focus

Statistics is one reason organizers want to increase the emphasis on fruits and vegetables in the 2005 Lighten Up Iowa program.

"Iowans rank worse than the national average for fruit and vegetable intake," said Ruth Litchfield, Iowa State University Extension nutritionist. "Approximately 80 percent of the state's population consumes fewer than five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. The national average is 76 percent."

For a state that prides itself on food production, that disparity concerns nutritionists and others.

"Eating fruits and vegetables is linked to several health benefits," Litchfield said. "Fruits and vegetables have fewer calories per serving than most foods, making them a good choice for weight loss and weight maintenance. In addition, the fiber found in fruits and vegetables promotes a feeling of fullness and may make it easier to curb caloric intake."

Food consumption data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) between 1994 and 1996 found that greater fruit consumption was associated with a lower body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measure used to assess body weight in relation to height. Vegetable consumption, on the other hand, did not have a consistent relationship with BMI.

"This discrepancy may be due to the fact that the vegetable of choice among most Americans is fried potatoes," Litchfield said.

Fruits, vegetables and whole grains also provide an abundance of phytochemicals that have been linked to reduced risk of certain diseases.

"Fruits and vegetable contain phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavonoids, indoles, isoflavones, capsacin and protease inhibitors. These substances have been shown to protect against viruses, bacteria and fungi," Litchfield said.

As part of the Strive for Five campaign all Lighten Up Iowa participants will receive five tips each week to help them increase fruit and vegetable intake, increase physical activity, and meet the Strive for Five goal. Registration materials are available at http://www.lightenupiowa.org/ or email info@lightenupiowa.org.

Lighten Up Iowa is brought to you by the Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Games and Iowa State University Extension. Lighten Up Iowa is a five-month (January 19 to June 8) lifestyle program that encourages Iowans to develop healthy activity and eating habits.

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* May not add due to rounding.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Food Supply Data Series provides annual estimates of the amount of food available for human consumption in the United States. These figures exclude inedible portions and adjusts for spoilage and waste.

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