High compliance with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help to extend the lifespan of middle-aged and elderly men and women.
This study examined the influence a high fruit and vegetable diet has on total mortality risk. Researchers monitored the food choices and number of deaths recorded in a study population comprising of 19,597 middle-aged and elderly Chinese men and women.
Researchers observed that death toll from cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other causes was lower among consistent consumers of different fruits and vegetables than in infrequent and non-consumers of these plant foods. This study demonstrated that eating varieties of fruits and vegetables may reduce middle-aged and elderly people's chances of dying prematurely from cancer, cardiovascular ailments, and other chronic diseases.