More than 5 helpings of Fruit and Veg .................

[Guest guest]

Eating more than the recommended five portions of fruit and

vegetables a day can cut risk of stroke, a study says.

People who ate three to five cut the risk by 11% compared with those

eating fewer than three, The Lancet reported.

 

It was 26% lower for people who ate more than five servings,

University of London researchers found in the study of data on more

than 257,500 people.

 

The Department of Health says five or more daily portions cuts risk

of heart disease, cancer and other problems.

 

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the most common cause

of disability in most developed countries.

 

STROKE

More than 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke each year

Strokes kill an estimated 67,000 people in the UK each year

More than 250,000 Britons live with a severe disability caused by

stroke

 

The researchers pooled data from eight studies from Europe, Japan and

the US.

 

Lead researcher Dr Feng He said a diet including lots of fruit and

vegetables was also likely to further reduce the risk of other forms

of cardiovascular disease, and some cancers.

 

Professor Graham MacGregor, who also worked on the study, said: " It

is a very important finding because it really shows that the quantity

of fruit and vegetables you should be eating is more than five a

day. "

 

Fruit and vegetables are full of nutrients such as vitamin C, beta

carotene and potassium as well as plant proteins and dietary fibre.

 

A SERVING

Vegetables: 77 grams (2.7 ounces)

Fruit: 80 grams (2.8 ounces)

They are also less dense in calories, have very little fat and

contain beneficial antioxidants.

 

However, the researchers suspect that potassium may be the most

important factor in preventing stroke.

 

Professor MacGregor said: " We know that if you give people additional

potassium it lowers blood pressure.

 

" By increasing to five servings a day from three you would increase

your potassium intake by about 50%. "

 

Simple changes

 

Joe Korner, of the Stroke Association, said: " This latest research is

very important because it shows just how significant this simple

lifestyle change can be in reducing strokes.

 

" Simply increasing daily intake of fruit and vegetables to five or

more a day could reduce the number of strokes by 26%. In the UK that

would mean nearly 40,000 strokes a year.

 

" At least a further 20,000 (14%) strokes could be prevented by better

control of high blood pressure through reducing salt intake, better

exercise and stopping smoking. "

 

Professor Gareth Beevers, from the Blood Pressure Association, said

the study highlighted the need for health educators to provide clear,

practical information about the sorts of foods which everyone should

be eating.