Could you eat seven portions a day?
It has been announced today that eating seven portions of fruit and vegetables a day cuts the risk of dying from cancer and heart disease. With many people already struggling to achieve the government's 'five-a-day' guidelines, is this excessive?
Researchers from the University College London carried out a study of 65,226 men and women, which found that risk of death was reduced by 42% in people who ate seven or more portions a day, compared to 36% for people eating the advised five-a-day.
'Risk of death was reduced by 42% in people who ate seven or more portions a day.
Fresh vegetables have been found to to be the best secret to a longer life, followed by salad and then fruit. But steer clear of fruit juice, which has no benefit, and canned fruit with apparently increases the risk of death.
Vegetables, salad and fruit reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.Dr Oyinlola Oyebode, lead investigator of the study, said: 'The clear message here is that the more fruit and vegetables you eat, the less likely you are to die- at any age.'
But is seven portions asking too much of our diets?
Dr Alison Tedstone, from Public Health England, described the study as interesting but with two thirds of people still not managing to meet the five-a-day target the advice is unattainable.
She told the BBC: 'We are working very hard to improve the availability of fruit and vegetables, as we see it as absolutely integral to somebody's health to choose those five a day.'
Victoria Taylor, from the British Heart Foundation, agrees that seven portions a day may be excessive for some but not to ignore the advice.
She said on the BBC: 'While you may not be getting your five a day, there's no reason to give up and stop trying as this study showed there were health benefits for every extra portion of fruit and veg people ate.'
Tagged in Health Diet fruit vegetables