Dearth of Fruits & Veggies May Prompt Disease

With global rates of chronic diseases rising as the population ages, scientists seek solutions to lower the risks of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.  Zumin Shi, from the University of Adelaide (Australia), and colleagues assessed health, diet and lifestyle data of 1,020 Chinese men and women who participated in the Jiangsu longitudinal Nutrition Study (JIN).  Observing that the proportion of those in the study with more than one chronic disease increased from 14% to 34% over the five year study period, the researchers found that those participants who ate more fresh fruit and vegetables, and more grains other than wheat and rice, had better health outcomes overall. The study authors conclude that: “greater consumption of fruits and vegetable and whole grain products consumption appear to lower the risk of multimorbidity.”