Large-scale studies tracking nearly 2 million adults show that higher fruit and vegetable intake correlates with reduced mortality risk in both men and women. The ideal daily target? Five servings total—2 of fruit and 3 of vegetables—for maximum longevity benefits, according to new American Heart Association research.
Diets abundant in fruits and vegetables lower risks for major killers like cardiovascular disease and cancer. Yet, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 1 in 10 adults meets these intake levels.
“While groups like the American Heart Association recommend 4-5 daily servings, people often get mixed signals on optimal amounts, ideal combinations, and best choices,” notes lead author Dong D. Wang, MD, ScD, an epidemiologist and nutritionist at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Wang's team drew from the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (over 100,000 participants tracked up to 30 years with repeated dietary data), plus 26 global studies involving ~1.9 million people across 29 countries.
Key findings from 2M+ participants:
