From 5 a day to 10 a day

Five portions of fruit and vegetables every day is good for you but 10 is much better and could prevent 7.8 million premature deaths worldwide.

This is the finding of a recent study by Imperial College London. !0 portions a day is equated to 800g, double the current recommended amount in the UK and was associated with a 24% reduction in heart disease risk, 33% for stroke and 13% for cancers. Not all fruit and vegetables were reported as equal with some better with respect to certain conditions than others. This study has been widely reported and various suggestions have been offered for meeting 800g a day. It can be made up from: 3 tablespoons of peas, 8 cauliflower florets, one apple, one pear, a tomato, a banana, half a grapefruit two kiwi fruit and a glass of orange juice. Because of the sugar levels in fruit it is recommended that in eating 10 a day there is a restriction on the portions of fruit.

Dagfinn Aune et al (2017) Fruit and vegetable intake reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all causes mortality – a systematic review and dose response meta-analysis of prospective studies. International Journal of Epidemiology February 2017.