Forget five a day, we’re all meant to be eating TEN portions of fruit and veg every day!

Fruit and veg, 10 a day

by Siam Goorwich |
Published on

Bad news junk food lovers, a new report has found that we should all be eating 10 portions of fruit and vegetables EVERY DAY!

If (like most of us) you struggle to meet the five-a-day UK guidelines for fruit and veg, we have some bad news.

Reseach published in the International Journal of Epidemiology has found that we should all actually be aiming to consume TEN portions of fruit and vegetables every single day.

Yes, you read that right, TEN!

Fruit and veg, 10 a day
It turns out five a day is no longer enough (Credit: Getty) ©Getty

The study found that millions of deaths - from the likes of heart disease, stroke and cancer - could be prevented if people upped their fruit and vegetable consumption to 10 portions a day.

Recording the studies results, the authors explained: "An estimated 5.6 and 7.8 million premature deaths worldwide in 2013 may be attributable to a fruit and vegetable intake below 500 and 800 g/day, respectively, if the observed associations are causal."

Fruit and veg, 10 a day
Do you and your family eat enough fruit and veg? (Credit: Getty) ©Getty

Meanwhile, the researchers also found that certain fruits and vegetables were particularly good at protecting people from certain diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

They explained: "Inverse associations were observed between the intake of apples and pears, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, and salads and cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, and between the intake of green-yellow vegetables and cruciferous vegetables and total cancer risk."

Fruit and veg, 10 a day
Will you be upping your fruit and veg intake? (Credit: Getty) ©Getty

Talking about the overall findings of their research, the team concluded: "Fruit and vegetable intakes were associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and all-cause mortality.

"These results support public health recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable intake for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature mortality."

But not everyone is convinced.

Many people took to social media to express their horror at the thought of trying to double their fruit and veg intake...

Twitter, 10-a-day
(Picture: Twitter) ©Twitter
Twitter, 10-a-day
(Picture: Twitter) ©Twitter
Twitter, 10-a-day
(Picture: Twitter) ©Twitter
Twitter, 10-a-day
(Picture: Twitter) ©Twitter

However some people were feeling much more enthusiastic and optimistic about the news...

Twitter, 10-a-day
(Picture: Twitter) ©Twitter
Twitter, 10-a-day
(Picture: Twitter) ©Twitter

Will you be upping your fruit and veg intake to 10 a day? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter

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