Eating more fruits and veggies is linked to a small but real drop in the chance of getting cancer, but eating more than about 6 servings a day doesn’t help much more.

Scientific Claim

Higher intake of fruits and vegetables is associated with a 3% lower risk of total cancer per 200 g/day increase, with the protective effect plateauing at 600 g/day, indicating a modest but statistically significant link to cancer risk reduction.

Original Statement

“For fruits and vegetables combined, the summary RR per 200 g/day was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95–0.99, I2 = 49%, n = 12) for total cancer... Reductions in risk were observed up to 600 g/day for cancer.”

From study:Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality—a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies

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 uses 'associated with' and reflects the observed relative risk reduction from observational data, correctly avoiding causal language.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality—a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

Eating more fruits and veggies lowers your cancer risk a little — about 3% less for every extra 200 grams per day, and eating more than 600 grams doesn’t help much more.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality—a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies

Score: 43

DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw319

Similar Assertions

Eating more fruit seems to help more than eating more vegetables when it comes to lowering the risk of dying from cancer.

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Eating more fruits and veggies doesn’t seem to lower the chance of dying from cancer, based on the available evidence.

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Eating more broccoli, cabbage, and similar veggies is linked to a small but noticeable drop in the chance of getting any kind of cancer, especially when people eat them regularly compared to rarely.

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Just because eating more fruits and veggies doesn’t lower overall cancer deaths doesn’t mean it doesn’t help prevent certain kinds of cancer — we just didn’t look closely enough at each type.

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