MY Fruit and Veggies! Are your patients/clients getting enough?

Vegetables and fruit reduce the risk of cancer

There has never been a better time to encourage your patients/clients to eat more servings of vegetables and fruit each day. A new landmark report - the most comprehensive review of diet and cancer research from a global perspective - was recently completed. An expert panel of 15 of the world's leading researchers in diet and cancer reviewed more than 4,500 studies. The consistency and strength of the evidence was overwhelming. A diet high in vegetables and fruit is associated with a lower risk of cancers at almost all sites. If the only change people made was to eat five or more servings of vegetables and fruit each day, cancer incidence rates could drop by at least 20%.

Vegetables and fruit reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke

The relationship between heart disease, stroke and diet has changed considerably over the past two decades. Reducing the amount and type of fat in the diet is only part of the answer. Current research such as a recent review by the Cambridge Institute of Public Health concludes that eating vegetables and fruit also provides significant protection against heart disease and stroke.

How vegetables and fruit reduce the risk of disease

Vegetables and fruit appear to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke by providing protective substances such as vitamins, minerals, and fibre, as well as plant compounds called phytochemicals. For example, protective substances in vegetables and fruit may help reduce the risk of cancer by stopping normal cells from changing into cancerous cells. They may reduce the risk of heart disease by preventing a critical step in the development of diseased arteries - oxygen damage (oxidation) to LDL cholesterol. In addition, people who fill up on vegetables and fruit may not be as hungry for less healthy foods.

Focus groups help us understand consumer needs

Based on recent focus groups held in six regions across Canada, most people believe they should eat only 3 to 5 servings of vegetables and fruit each day. They are overwhelmed when told the recommended amount is 4 to 10 servings, as outlined in Eating well with Canada's Food Guide . Most people feel this number is achievable, however, once they understand what an actual serving size is. People are very interested in reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease and are amazed that vegetables and fruit provide such an easy and natural means to do so. Most everyone is looking for convenient, tasty and inexpensive ways to add more produce to their diets.

Fact sheets have been developed by Liz Pearson (registered Dietician and Author of the book When in doubt, eat broccoli!), for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association. MY Fruit and Veggies campaign brochures have been developed by Julie DesGroseilliers (registered Dietician and spokesperson for the "J'aime 5 à 10 portions par jour !" program).

Help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke by downloading or making copies of these fact sheets and giving them to all of your clients/patients. Click here to order 5 to 10 a day and MY Fruit and Veggies campaign materials.