World’s biggest veggie lovers REVEALED: DailyMail.com’s interactive map
World’s Biggest Vegetable Lovers REVEALED: DailyMail.com’s interactive map ranks 184 countries by how much vegetables they consume each day…
The countries that consume the most vegetables have been revealed, with the US and UK not even making the top 40.
Researchers found that China was the biggest vegetable fan overall, with the average citizen eating about a kilogram of vegetables a day, equivalent to four heads of broccoli.
By comparison, the U.S. ranks 44th globally, with residents consuming about 11 oz of vegetables per day — or just over a cup of broccoli. In the UK, people ate an average of 8oz.
This is according to statistics compiled by OurWorldInData, an Oxford University, based on data from the United Nations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says adults should eat about two to three cups of vegetables per day and about two cups of fruit.
Eating enough fruits and vegetables has been linked to multiple health benefits, including better digestion and a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.
Of the 181 countries with data, 128 — or 70 percent — consumed less than 9.5 pounds of vegetables per day — or less than one head of broccoli.
Eleven of the top 20 vegetable consuming countries were in Asia, while another four were in Europe.
The US ranks 44th on the list. Only one in 10 American adults gets the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Only half of the children get enough.
The CDC has sounded the alarm about this trend, noting, “Young children need specific nutrients to support their optimal growth and development. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help you get these nutrients.
“Limiting or reducing foods and drinks with a higher content of added sugars, including sugar-sweetened beverages, is important because added sugars are associated with an increased risk of obesity, dental caries, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”
It’s probably a similar situation in the UK, where people also choose processed and sugary foods over fruits and vegetables.
In the UK, the government has already introduced legislation to prevent unhealthy food from ending up at the end of supermarket aisles.
They are also under pressure to introduce rules that prevent unhealthy products from being offered in a two-for-one deal or the like.
At the other end of the scale, however, were mainly African countries, which suffer from food insecurity due to climate change and local conflicts.
Chad was at the bottom of the list, with the average person consuming 215oz of vegetables per year. It was followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 218.7 oz per year, and Ethiopia with 462 oz.
All three have been ravaged in recent years by conflicts that have disrupted farms and uprooted many families.