Fruit and Vegetable Intake Associated with Extended Lifespan

As we begin to gain a better understanding of epigenetics, or the way our environment impacts our genes, we also begin to clear up some of the mystery behind food and its impact on determining various aspects of our health. According to a recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, fruit, vegetable, and fiber intake are associated with a lowered risk of all causes mortality in people who are considered high risk for developing cardiovascular disease. For the study researchers took nearly 7,000 participants who were considered at high risk for the development of cardiovascular disease and monitored them over the course of six years. Throughout the term of the study diets were regularly assessed by questionnaires to determine fruit, vegetable, fiber, and whole-grain intakes. At the conclusion of the study approximately 425 of the participants had died, and after analyzing the data researchers concluded that individuals who consumed at least 210g of fruit, vegetables, and fiber daily had a 41% reduced risk for all-cause mortality. Although the argument could be made that at risk individuals have the most to gain from an increase in fiber and micronutrients, the fact still remains that diet’s ability to extend the lifespan of those who were considered to be in poor health is a testament to the healing power of proper nutrition.