What is the difference between fruits and vegetables

Based on these definitions, the difference between a fruit and a vegetable is technically that a fruit is a type of vegetable. In scientific usage, the difference is that a fruit is specifically the mature ovary of a flowering plant while a vegetable is any other edible part of the plant.

Fruits and vegetables do have some things in common. They are both foods people eat that come from plants. Fruits or vegetables can have a sweet taste or a savory taste. The fiber content per grams for fruit ranges from 2—15 grams, while leafy vegetables supply 1. The water content is also highly variable.

There are some nutrient differences among different categories of fruits and vegetables, as well. Here are few nutrition highlights:. Fruit is higher in sugar and calories than vegetables, but both fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Specific types of fruits and vegetables provide different nutrients. There is a good amount of research documenting the many benefits of fruit and vegetable intake on health. Several studies have found that eating more fruits and vegetables is associated with a decreased risk of heart disease 12 , 13 , Because fruits and vegetables are low in calories but high in fiber, they could even help keep your weight under control.

One study followed , people over a year span. It showed that when people increased their intake of fruits and non-starchy vegetables, their weight tended to decrease Increasing your fiber intake through fruits and vegetables may even reduce your risk of cancer. Multiple studies have found that higher fruit and vegetable consumption is linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer 17 , Finally, fruit and vegetable intake may benefit your blood sugar.

The fiber from these foods slows the absorption of sugar, which can keep blood sugar levels steady. One study showed that an increase in fruit and vegetable intake can actually lead to a reduction in the development of diabetes Note that these results applied to fruits and vegetables, but not fruit juice.

Fruit juice provides a concentrated dose of the vitamins, minerals and sugars found in fruit, but without the fiber and the health benefits that come with it. Eating enough fruits and vegetables can decrease your risk of heart disease and cancer while controlling your weight and blood sugar. However, they both come with an impressive set of nutrients and health benefits, from decreasing your risk of chronic disease to slimming your waistline.

Experts encourage people to start out by adding 1 or 2 fruits or vegetables to their daily diet. They note that some foods are healthier than others. Vegetables are nutritious and healthy. By those standards, seedy outgrowths such as apples , squash and, yes, tomatoes are all fruits, while roots such as beets, potatoes and turnips, leaves such as spinach , kale and lettuce, and stems such as celery and broccoli are all vegetables.

Related: Why are bananas berries, but strawberries aren't? The outlook is quite different in culinary terms, however. A lot of foods that are botanically speaking fruits, but which are savory rather than sweet, are typically considered vegetables by chefs. Classifying fruits can get kind of confusing.

Seedless fruits like watermelons and grapes are still considered fruits. Fruits without an obvious seed like bananas and pineapples are still fruits. Corn is technically a fruit, because the corn cob contains all the seeds the kernels. But corn is also a grain, so it is usually classified in that category.

Even sunflower seeds are technically fruits! This fun video from Sci Show Kids helps to show you the difference between fruits and vegetables. Nutritionally, the difference vary more between specific fruits and vegetables than between the groups of fruits and vegetables as a whole.

In general, the sweeter fruits tend to have more sugar which means a few more calories , but the starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn also have a few more calories than vegetables like celery, broccoli, or lettuce.