Foundation for Fresh Produce white paper underscores strong evidence linking fruits and vegetables to reduced non-communicable disease risk
A new white paper has been published in the US highlighting how consumption of fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.
Written by the Foundation for Fresh Produce’s chief medical officer, Jelena Gligorijevic, MD, Fruits, vegetables, and human health: Key nutrients and their role in chronic diseases is a critical, evidence-based framework for how to begin tackling the epidemic of non-communicable diseases.
“This review strengthens the clinical and public health case for produce by confirming that a high daily intake of fruits and vegetables is a cornerstone strategy for both preventing and managing chronic noncommunicable diseases,” said Lauren M Scott, president of the Foundation for Fresh Produce (FFP). “It moves far beyond ‘eat your veggies because they’re good for you’ and provides a robust scientific rationale for why fruits and vegetables are an essential part of dietary approaches and healthful lives all over the world.”
February is American Heart Month, making the release of this new review especially timely as heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US. About one in three adult Americans has one or more types of cardiovascular diseases, and one in every three deaths is attributed to cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease is also the leading cause of death in the European Union, prompting the EU to launch a new Cardiovascular Disease Action Plan. The plan underscores prevention, nutrition, and early intervention as critical levers for reducing non‑communicable diseases.
“This medical review reinforces the evidence that increased fruit and vegetable consumption plays a vital role in preventing and managing major cardiovascular risk factors both in the US, the EU. and globally,” the FFP said.
In addition to examining the effects of fruits and vegetables on heart disease, the review systematically explains how nutrients in fruits and vegetables directly combat the root causes of other major chronic illnesses, such as:
- Vitamins, antioxidants and phytochemicals reduce the inflammation that underlie many chronic diseases.
- High potassium and low sodium help manage hypertension.
- Low energy density and high fiber promote satiety and combat obesity.
- Fiber and phytochemicals exert a protective effect against diabetes, cancer, and digestive disorders.
- Anti-inflammatory compounds, antioxidants, and essential nutrients enhance neurotransmitter function, lower inflammation, and foster a healthy gut, all of which may contribute to better mood regulation and stress resilience.
“The review is more than an academic summary; it is a call to action for the global medical, governmental, and public health communities,” said Gligorijevic. “Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is not just a lifestyle suggestion. It is an essential, powerful, and accessible strategy to improve quality of life and combat the global rise of chronic disease.”
Why it matters for global health
The FFP urges health professionals and public servants to familiarise themselves with this review. “While the produce industry supplies the fruits and vegetables we need, clinicians, dietitians, policymakers, and government agencies must champion their consumption,” it said.
“The findings are clear: fruits and vegetables provide the essential vitamins, minerals, bioactive phytochemicals, and fibre we need to prevent and treat major common diseases. By focusing on these benefits, the medical community can empower patients, people of all ages and policymakers to shape food environments and public education that move us beyond treatment to a sustainable model of prevention.”
For more research and information on resources that support consumption of fruits and vegetables, visit www.fruitsandveggies.org.
