The fruit and veg to eat to stay healthy this January

The ministry regularly publishes a guide for the public on seasonal and recommended fruits and vegetables, in a bid to improve public health and help the environment.

Despite the cold of January, current recommendations include:

Vegetables

Avocados, beetroot, cardamom, carrots, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, squash, turnips, onions, sweet potatoes, leeks, potatoes, pumpkin, Jerusalem artichokes, endives, and lamb's lettuce.

Fruit

Lemons, starfruit, clementines, kiwis, coconuts, pears, apples and oranges.

Eating seasonally is known to help improve the biodiversity of the countryside, and protect nature; as well as helping consumers to cut down on their carbon footprint, by reducing the number of transport and air miles travelled by their food.

The recommendations come soon after reports that eating organic (bio) food may help to reduce the chance of contracting cancer; and news that reducing your meat intake can help improve health.

On January 3, 500 high-profile figures - including actors, entertainers, directors, professors, writers, artists, and scientific researchers - signed an open letter as part of a nationwide campaign to encourage the public to cut out both meat and fish from their diets, for at least one day a week.