That old saying about eating an apple a day? According to new research, it may not be enough to keep the doctor away. People who consume at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables each day slash their death risk from any cause—at any point in life—by 42 percent, reports a new large-scale study published in the British Medical Journal.
Study authors examined preexisting data from more than 65,000 U.K. residents who were 35 or older. The average number of fruit and veggie servings the residents consumed was 3.8 per day—enough to reap some protective benefits and lower mortality somewhat, according to study authors. But the real payoff was seen in those who piled their plates with seven or more servings each day. Not only did they have a significantly lower risk of death, but they also exhibited 25 percent lower odds of dying of cancer and 31 percent reduced likelihood of dying from heart disease or a stroke.
Unsurprisingly, researchers found that vegetables seemed to rack up a bigger health benefit than fruit; study subjects who consumed three or more fruit servings daily didn't get a life span boost. Researchers weren't sure why, but they suggest that it may have to do with the effect of fructose, or fruit sugar, on the body. They also discovered that frozen or canned fruit was linked to higher mortality rates—again, they theorized, it may be related to the added sugar in these products.
If you're a member of the seven and up club, congrats! If not, we're not here to preach—but we urge you to take a peak at these easy strategies to work more fruits and veggies into your diet.
MORE: 8 Genius Ways to Use Veggies You Never Would Have Thought Of
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