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Questions and Answers About Fruit and Vegetables

By Shereen Jegtvig, About.com

Updated March 26, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Readers always have interesting questions about the foods they eat, especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables. We all need 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day and I get some interesting questions from readers.

Are tomatoes bad for you?

TomatoesPhoto © Daniel Aniszewski
I love to eat tomatoes, but someone told me that tomatoes are bad and eating too many will make me sick. Can you tell me if tomatoes are good for me or if they are bad for me?

Are there nutritional differences among apples?

applesPhoto © Sanja Gjenero
I know that the skins of apples contain nutrients and there are several different colors of apples. What are the nutritional differences among the various colored apples?

Just how reliable are the studies on pomegranate juice?

PomegranatePhoto © Stefan Nicolae
Just how reliable are the studies on pomegranate juice? Were they funded by the pomegranate industry? The claims I have seen are that it cleanses arteries, and prevents vascular problems. True or just marketing hype?

Does cutting fruits and vegetables cause nutrition loss?

Cut Fruits and VegetablesPhoto © Peggy Greb
Is it true that preparing salads and cutting fruits and vegetables in advance allows the nutrients and vitamins to leave the food more rapidly than if the veggies were left whole and uncut before eating? I have also heard this notion is simply a way of preserving the freshness of the food.

Are potatoes good for you or bad for you?

PotatoesPhoto © Sanja Gjenero
I really like to eat potatoes, but someone told me that potatoes are unhealthy. Is this true? Are potatoes good for you or bad for you?

How can I get more fruits and vegetables into my diet?

Fruits and GrapesPhoto © Rick Hawkins
I am trying to eat healthier but I have a problem that I don't like very many fruits and vegetables. Mostly the problem is with the textures of the foods, they make me gag. I drink juice and can eat a few things like applesauce, peas, corn and broccoli but that is about all I can easily manage to eat. Can you give me any help on how to get more fruits and vegetables into my diet?

What can I add to frozen vegetables to add taste?

Healthy VegetablesPhoto © Shereen Jegtvig
I know I need to eat more vegetables every day, but I really don't like them. They get boring. How can I add flavor to vegetables so I can stand to eat them?

Will drinking cranberry juice help prevent bladder infections?

Cranberry JuicePhoto © Andrew Dean
I have been told by friends that drinking cranberry juice will help my bladder infections. Is this true or is just an old wives' tail?

What is the nutritional value of iceberg and romaine lettuce?

Iceberg LettucePhoto © Matthew Bowden
I eat lettuce every day, but I am not sure which lettuce is better for me? What is better nutritionally, iceberg lettuce or romaine lettuce?

Why are dried fruits higher in sugar content than regular fruits?

RaisinPhoto © Gokhan Okur
Eating dried fruits like raisins banana chips is an easy way for me to get some extra fruit in my diet. I know eating lots of fruit is good for me. However, I am curious about why dried fruits are higher in sugar content than regular fresh fruits. Can you explain this?
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