Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Health

Fruit and vegetables are important components of a healthy diet, and their sufficient daily consumption could help prevent major diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. Overall, it is estimated that up to 2.7 million lives could potentially be saved each year if fruit and vegetable consumption were sufficiently increased. A recently published World Health Organization (WHO) report recommends as a population-wide intake goal the consumption of a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables per day (excluding potatoes and other starchy tubers) for the prevention of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity, as well as for the prevention and alleviation of several micronutrient deficiencies, especially in less developed countries. The WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health emphasizes the increase of fruit and vegetables consumption as one of the dietary recommendations to be considered when preparing national policies and dietary guidelines for populations and individuals. This new book gathers the latest research from around the globe in this field of study.