Daily intake of 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables may help safeguard an individual from cancer.

This study looked at the relationship between the consumption of fruits and vegetables and the incidence rate of cancer among Mexican-Americans. Researchers compared the fruit and vegetable intake levels of 82 patients with cancer and 2299 cancer-free men and women who enrolled in the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort. 

Researchers observed that the chances of developing cancer were 86% lower among participants who consumed 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day than in their counterparts who ate lesser amounts of these plant foods. In addition, the consumption of an extra serving of fruits and vegetables was found to reduce cancer risk by 11% in this study. The results of this study affirm the protective effect of high dietary ingestion of fruits and vegetables against cancer.