Let's start with why we eat fruits and vegetables. These nutrient-rich foods are truly good for you in every way and they nourish the body in a natural way. Fruits and vegetables actually protect the body from developing chronic disease, fighting inflammation, and low energy. But now a new report shows that only 13% of Americans actually eat enough produce. 

The report, published July 9 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that in every state in the U.S. fewer than 1 in 5 American adults are eating enough fruit and vegetables. Through a nationwide survey, they found that while states vary when it comes to fruit and vegetable consumption, they all could use improvement in the product department. 

A staggering statistic is that only 13% of Americans eat enough fruit. Even further, only 6% of people in Mississippi met government recommendations for vegetables and 13% of people in California met them. The most fruit-averse state was Tennessee with only 8% of people met government recommendations while in California, 18% of people met those recommendations. 

This new report was published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report also found that a staggering 9% of people actually met the vegetable intake recommendations. Past research has indicated that kids in the U.S. are often not meeting product requirements either. The truth is this is a major public health issue but gets swept under the rug and more chronic diseases are spoken about. But these types of lifestyle habits are what lead to diseases like  stroke and cancer. 

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that Americans consume 1.5 to two cups of fruit every day, along with 2-3 cups of vegetables. Fruits and vegetables add necessary dietary nutrients that help maintain a healthy weight and stave off risk for heart disease, stroke and even some cancers.