Let’s Talk About Veg (vegetables) Baby!

Mom always said that fruits and vegetables are good for your health, but a new study has quantified just how good – and the results are remarkable. Tracking the self-reported eating habits of more than 65,000 people over 12 years, researchers of the University College of London found that those who consume 7 or more daily portions – each roughly half a cup – of fresh fruits or vegetables reduced their risk of death during the study period by 42%, the Washington Post reports.

Consuming that same amount dropped the specific risk of dying from cancer by 25%, and from heart disease by 31%. “The size of the effect is staggering,” says researcher Oyinlola Oyebode. Even minimal consumption had a measurable impact; Eating one to three daily portions cut the risk of death by 14%. Fresh vegetables provided the biggest benefit with each portion reducing the overall risk of death by 16%. Consuming canned fruits, however, actually increased the statistical risk, likely due to the added sugar used in processing. Fruit juices had no effect at all. Researchers stressed that the findings indicate “a strong association but not necessarily a casual relationship” between eating fruits and vegetables and mortality rates.