The effect of fruit and vegetable intake on risk for coronary heart disease.

​The tendency of developing coronary heart disease is low in individuals who frequently consumed generous portions of fruits and vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables and vitamin C-containing fruits and vegetables.

This study examined how regular intake of fruits and vegetables affect the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). A team of researchers from Harvard School of Public Health looked at data on the coronary heart disease relative risk and the fruit and vegetable consumption levels of more than 120,000 men and women between the ages of 34 to 75 years and with no previous history of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

The Harvard scientists observed that consistent consumption of fruits and vegetables reduced the risk of developing coronary heart disease. According to this study, every extra one serving of fruits and vegetables consumed per day lowered the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease by 4%, with green leafy vegetables and vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables having the strongest protective effect. The results of this study suggest that generous intake of fruits and vegetables may significantly decrease an individual's susceptibility to coronary heart disease.