People who eat five servings of fruits and veggies a day are much less likely to die from lung diseases like COPD than those who eat only two servings.
Scientific Claim
A daily intake of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables is associated with a 35% lower risk of respiratory disease mortality compared to 2 servings per day, a stronger protective effect than seen for cancer or cardiovascular disease.
Original Statement
“daily intake of 5 servings of fruit and vegetables was associated with hazard ratios (95% CI) of ... 0.65 (0.59–0.72) for respiratory disease 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 uses 'associated with' and reports the exact hazard ratio, correctly reflecting the observational nature of the evidence without implying causation.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mortality
Eating 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day cuts your risk of dying from breathing problems by 35%—more than it reduces risk from heart disease or cancer—according to a big, long-term study of healthy adults.