Eating leafy greens, broccoli, oranges, and other colorful fruits and veggies is linked to living longer, likely because they’re packed with good nutrients.

Scientific Claim

Higher intake of green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, citrus fruits, and vitamin C- or beta-carotene-rich fruits and vegetables is associated with lower total mortality, indicating that nutrient-dense subgroups contribute to the overall benefit.

Original Statement

“Higher intakes of most subgroups of fruits and vegetables were inversely associated with total mortality, including green leafy vegetables, non-starchy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, citrus fruit, and vitamin C rich and β carotene rich fruit and vegetables...”

From study:Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mortality

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The claim correctly uses 'associated with' and reflects subgroup findings without overgeneralizing, aligning with the study's observational evidence.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mortality

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

Eating more fruits and veggies—especially not potatoes or juice—was linked to people living longer, and the best benefit came from about 5 servings a day.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mortality

Score: 66

DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.120.048996

Similar Assertions

People who eat more fruits and vegetables each day—up to about 10 servings—are less likely to die from any cause, with the biggest drop in death risk coming from adding even a few servings to their daily meals.

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Whether you’re young or old, smoke or don’t, are overweight or not — eating five servings of fruits and veggies a day still helps lower your risk of dying early.

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People who eat more spinach, kale, and other dark leafy greens have a much lower risk of heart disease than those who eat little or none, even after accounting for other healthy habits.

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Eating starchy veggies like corn and peas doesn’t seem to help people live longer, unlike other fruits and vegetables, which do.

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People who eat more fruits and veggies have a slightly lower chance of dying from heart disease, and both fruits and veggies contribute to this benefit.

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