Low intake of fruits and vegetables cause heart diseases and cancer

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA- Low fruit and vegetable intake has been identified as the key risk factor for non-communicable disease, causing an estimated 2.7 million deaths each year world-wide.

A release issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday said the low intake of fruits and vegetables also causes type 2 diabetics, obesity and certain cancers.


The release said eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables could prevent these diseases, displace excessive consumption of foods high in fats, sugar or salt and ensure adequate intake of most micronutrients, dietary, fibres and a host of beneficial non-nutrients substances.


According to the release, a database from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) indicated that though developing countries produce a lot of the global supply of fruits and vegetables, consumption was below the minimum intake target among the lower socio-economic groups in Asia, Africa, Eastern and Central Europe.

It said there was strong evidence that sufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables helps prevent cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetics, obesity and certain cancers and promote good health. The release suggested that to effectively promote more consumption, "prevailing diets need to be more systemically assessed for their nutrition and health implications".


It said a joint fruit and vegetable promotion efforts was being developed within the framework of the global strategy on diet, physical activity and health to increase the awareness of the role of fruits and vegetables.


The promotion would also encourage and support the development and implementation of national programmes as well as support research in relevant areas and develop the human resources required to design and implement the fruit and vegetable promotion programmes.