Boost Fruits & Veggies to Slash Disease & Death Risks

While it is commonly accepted that incorporating fruits and vegetables  into the daily diet confers an array of health benefits, the quantity to consume has been subject to debate.  Frank B. Hu, from Harvard School of Public Health (Massachusetts, USA), and colleagues completed a meta-analysis of 16 published studies on all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality by levels of fruit and vegetable consumption, involving a total of 833,234 subjects. The researchers observed a dose-response relationship: the more fruits and veggies people ate, the less likely they were to have heart problems or die during the study period.   The protective effects of fruits and veggies leveled out at five servings per day, consistent with current dietary recommendations.  The study authors conclude that: “This meta-analysis provides further evidence that a higher consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of all cause mortality, particularly cardiovascular mortality.”