Post by Willow on Apr 1, 2014 15:05:57 GMT 9.5
Diet of seven portions of fruit and vegetables cuts risk of early death
EATING seven portions of fruit and vegetables a day cuts the risk of early death by 42 per cent, according to a study that suggests aiming for "five a day" may not be enough.
Vegetables appeared to be markedly healthier than fruit, said researchers, who urged a shift towards Australian advice to eat five daily portions of vegetables plus two of fruit.
However, other experts said the research could not prove that extra vegetables were lifesaving because people who reported eating the most were more likely to be healthier in other ways. They warned that changing NHS guidance risked disheartening people struggling to eat five a day, as well as giving the impression that scientists do not know what they are talking about.
The Health Survey for England analysed data on 65,000 people, of whom 4300 died during almost eight years of follow-ups. It found that the more fruit and vegetables the person ate, the more their risk of death fell.
"We all know that eating fruit and vegetables is healthy, but the size of the effect is staggering," said Oyinlola Oyebode, of University College London, the lead author of the study.
After adjusting for factors such as age, smoking and social class, people who ate one to three portions of fruit and vegetables a day were 14 per cent less likely to die than those who ate less than one. Three to five portions cut the risk by 29 per cent, five to seven by 36 per cent, while people eating seven or more were 42 per cent less likely to die than those eating less than one.
Seven daily portions also cut the risk of heart disease by 31 per cent and cancer by 25 per cent. Calculations published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health show that each daily portion of vegetables cuts the risk of death by 16 per cent. Salad cuts it by 13 per cent and fresh fruit cuts it by 4 per cent.
"The clear message here is that the more fruit and vegetables you eat, the less likely you are to die at any age. Vegetables have a larger effect than fruit, but fruit still makes a real difference," Dr Oyebode said. "Our study shows people following Australia's 'Go for 2+5' advice will reap huge health benefits. However, people shouldn't feel daunted by a big target like seven. Whatever your starting point, it is always worth eating more fruit and vegetables."
The researchers suggest that the higher sugar content of fruit could counteract its other health benefits. Fruit juice did not cut the risk of death significantly, while each daily serving of frozen or canned fruit appeared to increase the risk of death by 17 per cent. However, this may be because people without access to fresh fruit tend to be more deprived.
In a linked comment in the same journal, public health experts at the University of Liverpool write: "The UK 'five-a-day' campaign offers a target which is pragmatic, but one which might provide a false reassurance and risk complacency in the quarter of the population that already hits this target. They need to aim higher. Is it perhaps now time for the UK to update the 'five-a-day' message to 'ten a day'?"
Professor Richard Tiffin, of the University of Reading, said: "I don't think we should change the message every time new evidence emerges ... If we keep changing such messages, people could be forgiven for thinking that scientists can't make up their minds, or, worse for public health implications, that they don't know what they're talking about."
The Times
They dont say who these "other experts" are but you can bet your bottom dollar they will be paid by the meat, dairy or poultry industry OR some other food processing company.
EATING seven portions of fruit and vegetables a day cuts the risk of early death by 42 per cent, according to a study that suggests aiming for "five a day" may not be enough.
Vegetables appeared to be markedly healthier than fruit, said researchers, who urged a shift towards Australian advice to eat five daily portions of vegetables plus two of fruit.
However, other experts said the research could not prove that extra vegetables were lifesaving because people who reported eating the most were more likely to be healthier in other ways. They warned that changing NHS guidance risked disheartening people struggling to eat five a day, as well as giving the impression that scientists do not know what they are talking about.
The Health Survey for England analysed data on 65,000 people, of whom 4300 died during almost eight years of follow-ups. It found that the more fruit and vegetables the person ate, the more their risk of death fell.
"We all know that eating fruit and vegetables is healthy, but the size of the effect is staggering," said Oyinlola Oyebode, of University College London, the lead author of the study.
After adjusting for factors such as age, smoking and social class, people who ate one to three portions of fruit and vegetables a day were 14 per cent less likely to die than those who ate less than one. Three to five portions cut the risk by 29 per cent, five to seven by 36 per cent, while people eating seven or more were 42 per cent less likely to die than those eating less than one.
Seven daily portions also cut the risk of heart disease by 31 per cent and cancer by 25 per cent. Calculations published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health show that each daily portion of vegetables cuts the risk of death by 16 per cent. Salad cuts it by 13 per cent and fresh fruit cuts it by 4 per cent.
"The clear message here is that the more fruit and vegetables you eat, the less likely you are to die at any age. Vegetables have a larger effect than fruit, but fruit still makes a real difference," Dr Oyebode said. "Our study shows people following Australia's 'Go for 2+5' advice will reap huge health benefits. However, people shouldn't feel daunted by a big target like seven. Whatever your starting point, it is always worth eating more fruit and vegetables."
The researchers suggest that the higher sugar content of fruit could counteract its other health benefits. Fruit juice did not cut the risk of death significantly, while each daily serving of frozen or canned fruit appeared to increase the risk of death by 17 per cent. However, this may be because people without access to fresh fruit tend to be more deprived.
In a linked comment in the same journal, public health experts at the University of Liverpool write: "The UK 'five-a-day' campaign offers a target which is pragmatic, but one which might provide a false reassurance and risk complacency in the quarter of the population that already hits this target. They need to aim higher. Is it perhaps now time for the UK to update the 'five-a-day' message to 'ten a day'?"
Professor Richard Tiffin, of the University of Reading, said: "I don't think we should change the message every time new evidence emerges ... If we keep changing such messages, people could be forgiven for thinking that scientists can't make up their minds, or, worse for public health implications, that they don't know what they're talking about."
The Times
They dont say who these "other experts" are but you can bet your bottom dollar they will be paid by the meat, dairy or poultry industry OR some other food processing company.