Many people go through various efforts to stay fit and maintain good health for a prolonged existence. What drives their efforts is the desire to stay alive.

This may not be enough; there are easily available means that can help one prolong life; good feeding especially on fruits and vegetables is one among others.

Good health is wealth, and this is a very important aspect of life. For most human beings, staying fit and healthy is parallel to being wealthy.

A person's everyday life is influenced mainly by the state of his mind and body, which is helped by good feeding habits and exercises.

Practices like physical fitness training, eating a balanced and healthy diet, maintaining an ideal weight and employing an effective stress management procedure are the chief determinants of a good health.

It is also important to stop smoking, reduce alcohol intake and avoid the use of prohibited substances. Doctor John Bosco Gahutu is a professor of physiology at the medical school of Butare University.

He says that poor health can be caused by a host of different factors such as poor eating habits, lack of exercises, stress, excessive smoking and alcohol intake.

Unbalanced intake of food nutrients may cause excessive or deficient nutrient intake, which affect the body's normal functioning. These nutrients are necessary for a person's growth, metabolism and other functions.

Doctor Gahutu explains that carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and water are among the main nutrients that are needed by the human body in different amounts in order to perform its various functions.

Fats are nutrients that are known to provide energy to the body and water as a nutrient is involved to support the body's metabolism.

Fruits and vegetables provide a high percentage of water, which is necessary for the body's growth and metabolic processes.

It runs through the blood and lymphatic system, carrying oxygen and distributing nutrients to the cells. It also rids the body of toxins and wastes in the form of urine and sweat.

If water and other liquid substances were not present in human diet, food digestion, nutrient absorption and waste excretion would be impossible. Eating right for a healthy life calls for this.

The human body is made up of two-thirds of water. A person needs to take at least one litre of water a day. The body's need for water is satisfied by the intake of other liquids such as juice from fruits and vegetables, which are made of 80 to 95% water.

Doctor Gahutu says that fruit juice has been scientifically proven to give certain health benefits, provided that they are taken in moderation.

Nutritionists also suggest that fruit juice should be taken in its natural state without any colourings or preservatives. It should be 100 percent natural fruit juice.

Whereas Cranberry juice is believed to prevent urinary tract infections, grape juice lowers the chances of blood clots in the body. Orange juice on the other hand prevents stroke and reduces the risk of heart attacks.

The doctor highlights that though the above mentioned beliefs may have no therapeutic basis, a lot of fruit juice is needed for a healthy look and body. For example pure orange juice is very rich in Vitamin C, potassium, and folic acid.

Grape juice (purple), pomegranate juice and cranberry juice are among other fruit juices that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and anthocyanins.

Juice made from fruits with rich colours such as grapes, pomegranates, cranberries and blueberries is rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

Recent scientific studies have also claimed that antioxidants found in most fruits and vegetable juice can help lower a person's risks of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances found in most plants and have the potential to help combat heart diseases and fight cancer.

Fresh juice from fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of minerals and vitamins that catalyse chemical reactions occurring in the body.

These enzymes also produce the energy and chemicals needed for digestion, absorption, and conversion of food into body tissues.

An increased intake of fruit and vegetable juice ensures that the body will efficiently absorb more minerals and vitamins.

Another helpful benefit of fruit and vegetable juice is the ability to promote detoxification in the human body. They help to clean the body, especially those with high acidic levels.

Tomatoes, pineapples, and citruses such as oranges, red grapefruits, and lemons are known for their detoxifying properties. While these fruits promote cleansing, they still provide the body with a high boost of Vitamin C.

The body therefore needs to feed on sufficient quantities of fruits and vegetables and other fresh products on a regular basis.

Lack of nutrients in the body can have widespread ramifications on the whole body and the health. Eating right for your life will be the only way you can prolong your life-span.

The writer is a medical practitioner