Fruits and vegetables are far more than fiber, carbohydrates, and protein. They’re complex synergies of vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and polyphenols that can help us avoid the most prolific killers of our age. Research shows that fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
A research team led by Atsushi Goto, a professor at Yokohama City University, and Hitoshi Nakagama, president of the National Cancer Center Japan, conducted a 20-year research survey on the association between eating fruits and vegetables and all-cause mortality. The results, published in October 2022 in The Journal of Nutrition, an Oxford journal in the UK, show that people who consumed more vegetables and fruits had a 7 to 8 percent lower risk of death over 20 years, compared with those who consumed fewer vegetables and fruits.
