Which 7 a day fruit and veg give you the best protection?

This latest survey, carried out by researchers at the University College London, found that vegetables onferred a greater health benefit than fruit. While 2 or 3 servings of vegetables a day cut risk of death by 20% the same number of servings of fruit cut risk of death by 10%. Fruit juice and canned fruit conferred no benefit and even a suggestion of harm, no doubt due to the high sugar content, including syrups in canned fruit.

On the basis of all the evidence to date I stand by my recommendation, made more than a decade ago, to shoot for 7 servings a day, being 4-5 servings of vegetables and 2-3 of fruit. This, for example, means a serving of fruit with breakfast, half of each main meal (2 servings) as vegetables and 2 further servings during the day, as snacks, or either fruit or vegetables. This could be a carrot dipped in hummus, or an apple with a few nuts or seeds. Combining proteinProteins are large molecules consisting of chains of amino acids. Proteins are essential nutrients for the human body – they are a building block of… with fruit or vegetables further lowers its glycemic load.

In relation to a number of killer diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s, the biggest health benefit appears to come from antioxidantAntioxidants are substances that protect cells within the body from damage caused by free radicals. They help to strengthen the body’s ability to fight infection… and polyphenol rich foods. For example, for Alzheimer’s protection the best kinds of vegetables are carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, spinach and mushrooms. The best fruits are berries, especially blueberries and strawberries. Flavonoids and polyphenols, found not only in fruit and vegetables, but also in tea, red wine and dark chocolate, are associated with preserving memory. The most protective effect is found eating six servings (500g) a day of fruit and vegetables.

There exists a good index of the total antioxidant power of fruit and vegetables, measured as the ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capacity) of a food. The chart below gives you some of the top ORAC star foods. My special report on antioxidants gives you more info on top ORAC foods.

Choosing the high ORAC foods makes all the difference. Consider these two example days below, based on 5 servings of fruit and vegetables. The one on the left clocks up a measly 2,410 ORACs – you want about 10,000 ORACs for significant health benefit. The one on the right clocks up over 10,401 ORACs.

The simplest way to achieve 10,000 ORACS is to have a shot of Cherry Active (a montmorency cherry concentrate). That alone is over 8,000 ORACs. I have a shot almost every day, plus a serving of berries with my breakfast, then half a plateful of greens from the garden, and other vegetables, for lunch and dinner. Avocado, broccoli and asparagus are three of the best.