A new study suggests that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may not offer much protection against cancer.For years the public health message in New Zealand has been the World Health Organisation's recommendation to eat “five plus a day”, wi
A new study suggests that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may not offer much protection against cancer.
For years the public health message in New Zealand has been the World Health Organisation’s recommendation to eat “five plus a day”, with the assumption that eating at least five servings of vegetables and fruits per day is good for your health.
But US researchers have analysed data from nearly 500,000 people in Europe and found that while fruits and vegetables may have other health benefits the link between a high intake of fruit and veg and reduced cancer risk is weak.
Fruits and vegetables were found to be moderately protective for people who drink heavily but only for cancers related to smoking or alcohol.
The researchers found that people who ate more fruits and vegetables were also more likely to be non-smokers and more likely to exercise regularly and drink low amounts of alcohol.
However, once these other lifestyle factors were accounted for the fruits and vegetables offered little extra protection.
The study “strongly confirms” previous studies that found little effect on cancer risk from fruit and vegetable intake, said Dr Walter C. Willett from the Harvard School of Public Health.
He suggested future research should focus on the cancer-protective benefits of individual types of fruits and vegetables.
