Four out of five Australian adults are not eating enough fruit and vegetables, a large CSIRO survey has found.
Of the nearly 150,000 people surveyed, one in two adults did not eat the recommended intake of fruit, while two out of three adults, or 66 per cent, did not eat enough vegetables.
Dietary guidelines recommend people eat five-six serving of vegetables and two serves of fruit every day.
Women reported slightly better fruit and vegetable consumption with 24 per cent meeting enough fruit and veg, compared with only 15 per cent of men surveyed.
The Fruit, Vegetable and Diet Score Report released on Monday shows Aussies aren't as healthy as they believe themselves to be, said Professor Manny Noakes, Research Director at the CSIRO.
"This report shows the majority of those surveyed are not getting all the beneficial nutrients from fruit and vegetables needed for a healthy, balanced diet," Prof Noakes said.
Diets high in fruit and vegetables, Prof Noakes says, have been shown to improve psychological and physical wellbeing and suggests adults eat at least three serves of different vegetables every dinner time to help meet the benchmark.
"Increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables we eat is one of the simplest ways Australians can improve their health and wellbeing today as well as combat the growing rates of obesity and lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and a third of all cancers," Prof Noakes said.
"In particular, petrochemicals from fruit and vegetables reduce systemic inflammation which can lead to chronic disease."
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