Coronary heart disease is less likely to occur in individuals adhering to diets high in fruits and vegetables.
This meta-analysis examined whether high intake of fruits and vegetables reduces coronary heart disease risk. Data extracted from 12 studies were analyzed for this study.
Researchers discovered that subjects with the highest fruit and vegetable consumption rates had the lowest risk of developing coronary heart disease. An increase in the intake of fruits and vegetables from less than 3 servings per day to more than 5 servings per day was found to decrease coronary heart disease risk by 17% in this study. Data from this study suggest that frequent consumption of generous portions of fruits and vegetables may boost an individual's defense against coronary heart disease.