Often, when you are engaged in stressful and hectic activity such as learning how to invest in the stock market, you simply forget to eat right because you are preoccupied. However, you should put a little time aside so that you can think about your diet. Fruit and vegetables have many beneficial effects on your health. For one thing, the high fiber content helps to control glucose levels in your blood and reduce the levels of cholesterol. They also contain large quantities of phytochemicals and antioxidants that reduce the risk of heart disease. The quantities of essential minerals and vitamins promote general well-being while providing protection against illness and disease.

Your recommended five portions daily of fruits and vegetables should come from a variety of different sources. If you eat the same fruits and vegetables every day, you will continue to be deficient in the vitamins and minerals that they do not possess. To get the maximum benefits from fruits, eat them whole and the peel as well wherever possible. Use fruit drinks or dried fruits in moderation because fruit loses a substantial amount of its fiber when it is converted to juice and as well as a lot of vitamin C in the drying process.

Your intake of vitamins should be divided between red and green vegetables and, generally, the more colors you eat, the healthier it is. As another rule of thumb, the darker and more colorful vegetables contain large quantities of fiber, minerals and vitamins. This is why spinach is more nutritious than lettuce. Balance the starchy vegetables such as potatoes and other root vegetables with non starchy vegetables like beans, spinach and broccoli. Overcooking your vegetables causes them to lose nutrients and the best way to retain the nutrition is to microwave or steam them. Homemade vegetable soup is an excellent way to meet your daily requirement and you can add lentils or barley to make it a complete meal.