Hey there viewers and welcome back to another bestie video!
Fruits and vegetables make for a well balanced, wholesome diet.
But do you know the difference between the two?
Many of us don’t really think about it but vegetables and fruits are very different.
From their taste and texture to the structure and nutritional value.
The distinction between them is based not only on scientific or botanical classification
but also from a culinary standpoint.
You may have heard about tomato being a fruit but is that all?
What qualifies as a fruit or a vegetable?
Which fruit gets mistaken for vegetables?
What is their nutritional comparison?
In today’s video we will be clearing this up and talking about the difference between
fruits and vegetables.
Scientific Definition Of Fruit Let’s start off by talking about the exact
definition of a fruit.
Scientifically speaking, a fruit is the ripened ovary of any seed plant.
It is the edible part of a plant that is developed from a new flower and often is the sweet and
fleshy part that surrounds the seeds.
There can be fruit whose seeds are on the skin or the exterior part, like in case of
berries, or there can be one large seed or several small seeds.
Eventually the main purpose of fruit is to spread its seeds or attract creatures to help
disperse them.
In short, a fruit is a fully developed, edible ovary of a flowering plant.
Scientific Definition Of Vegetables Unlike fruits, vegetables are the edible part
of a plant.
They fall under the category of herbaceous plants and are only cultivated for their edible
parts.
For example, the leaf of spinach or the root of beet and so on.
You will be surprised to know that there are numerous fruits which we eat daily that are
masquerading as vegetables, tomato being one of the most obvious ones.
Since a vegetable is defined as any edible part of a plant, technically speaking, even
a fruit is a vegetable.
How do you include fruits and vegetables in your diet?
Tell us in the comments below!
Classification Of Fruits And Vegetables We tend to classify fruits and vegetables
from a culinary point of view through taste.
Fruits are sweet or sour whereas vegetables are mild and savory.
Fruits are typically used for dessert or as a garnish while veggies are either the core
of any main dish or a side dish option.
Although edible plants are used in a specific manner in the kitchen, the biological makeup
of the two classifies them differently.
They are also classified depending on the part of plants they come from.
While the fruit develops from a plant, other parts of the same plant are classified as
vegetables.
Fruits have seeds in them while veggies include the stem, leaves and roots.
Nutritional Comparison Of Fruits And Vegetables When it comes to nutritional value, both fruits
and vegetables are extremely important in everyday diet.
This is no surprise.
Adults should eat at least 2 cups of fruits and a maximum 3 cups of vegetables everyday.
In terms of nutrition, both are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants
and plant compounds.
They are also naturally low in calories, sodium and fat making them an ideal choice for literally
everyone.
Given the sweet taste of fruit, it is understandable that they are high in sugar and calories when
compared to vegetables.
For example one cup of diced apples contain over 60 calories and around 15 grams of sugar
while the same amount of broccoli has less than half the calories and just a mere 2 grams
of sugar.
When it comes to fiber, fruit has more of it than vegetables.
The water content is highly variable in both categories.
Leafy greens contain over 90% water and fruit contains around 60 to 80%
So, the next time you’re looking for a healthy meal or ways to shed those extra pounds, go
for a wholesome meal that has a combination of fruit and vegetables rather than a quick
sub.
Similarities Between Fruits And Vegetables Fruits and vegetables are almost always paired
together which has led us to believe that they are the same food!
Here are the similarities between them: Starting with characteristics, both of them
are whole foods that grow out from the ground and usually contain seeds.
They need sunlight, water and the right soil to grow before being eaten by either humans,
animals and insects.
Speaking about preparation, fruits and vegetables are cooked in a similar manner.
Unlike meats, they can be eaten raw.
One of the most popular ways of eating both is by blending them up into a smoothie.
In the current modern age of cooking, just like vegetables, fruit can also be grilled,
poached or baked.
Before humans included meat and grains in their diet, they relied solely on vegetables
and fruits for sustenance.
This shows that they have enough nutrients and essential vitamins and minerals to sustain
life.
This is one of the reasons why people are turning more towards a plant based diet.
Before we move forward, are you spoiled for choice at the grocery store?
Here are 8 vegetables that you should be eating and 8 that you shouldn’t.
Now back to learning about the difference between fruits and vegetables.
Health Benefits Of Fruits And Vegetables This one is a no brainer.
Fruits and vegetables are good for your health.
But if you are still curious about their health benefits?
Here is why you should amp up their amount in your daily diet:
Keeps Heart Healthy Have you ever wondered if you are eating the
right amount of fruits and veggies in a day?
Enough to keep your heart healthy?
You may want to bump it up from 5 to 10 servings a day if possible.
This will definitely lower the risk of developing heart conditions by over 30%.
Fruits like apples, oranges, pears and vegetables like broccoli, leafy greens, cauliflower along
with an assortment of colored veggies are great for heart health.
Fiber is the most important compound found in them that lowers cholesterol and high blood
pressure.
This enables proper functioning of the heart blood vessels.
Weight management Even a highly motivated person may feel like
giving up at times on their weight loss journey.
While managing weight may seem like a very stressful job, it is not!
The key is to eat anything you like, just cut down on the calories.
Swap regular meals of comfort food or high sugar and carbs, for healthy portions of low
calorie and no fat fruits and vegetables.
This will help in reducing the overall caloric content of the body.
They are also packed with fiber that leaves you feeling full for longer.
This also means saying goodbye to unhealthy snacking.
Lowers The Risk Of Developing Cancer Plant based foods are rich in phytochemicals,
antioxidants and nutrients that help in protecting the body against cancer cells and boosts the
immune system.
While eating fruits regularly lowers the risk of developing stomach and lung cancer, eating
vegetables like carrots, squash and other carotenoid containing veggies also reduces
the risk of mouth, pharynx and larynx cancer.
The chances of developing esophageal cancer is also lowered since these fruits and vegetables
are non starchy.
Adding more portions of fruits and vegetables is not a difficult thing to do and is a great
way to stay in shape.
Helps In Lowering Blood Sugar Managing blood sugar is all about striking
a balance between eating the right foods and getting ample exercise.
It is very important to regulate it to stay away from the risk of developing diabetes.
Although fruits are sweet and do contain sugar, they are loaded with naturally produced sugar
known as fructose.
These do not harm blood sugar levels in any way.
Fiber plays a major role in controlling these random blood sugar spikes which are mainly
found in the skin of fruits and vegetables.
Anytime you’re feeling hungry, remember to choose any whole fruit or maybe a vegetable
salad.
Maintains Digestive Health We have already established the fact that
fruits and vegetables are loaded with tons of nutrients, minerals and vitamins.
This also includes folate, vitamin C, antioxidants and of course, the superstar, dietary fiber.
All these are the key players in keeping your gut healthy and digestion well regulated.
If you have been suffering from constipation then it may be an indication that you need
to amp up the amount of fruits and vegetables you have.
Another bit of great news is that they even lower the risk of bowel cancer.
Fruits That Are Often Mistaken As Vegetables
We all have a pretty good concept of which foods are vegetables and which ones are fruits.
However, there are several plants that are technically fruits but are often put under
the category of vegetables due to their taste and texture.
One of the most controversial examples is a tomato.
Technically a fruit they are normally classified as a vegetable due to their flavor profile.
Some other commonly mistaken fruits for vegetables include: cucumber, avocado, eggplant, pepper,
pea pods and pumpkin.
The bottomline is that both fruits and vegetables, no matter how different are great for maintaining
overall health.
Eating the right amount of these assorted and colored fruits and vegetables also lowers
the chances of developing chronic diseases or age related issues.
Including fruits and veggies in your diet will be one decision you will not regret.
If you are looking for a healthier lifestyle then…
Include these nutrient dense foods in your diet.
Also check out these fruits that double as medicine.
Watching these 2 videos will help in maintaining mental and physical health.
Which fruits and medicines are healthiest according to you.
Tell us in the comments!