The idea that five servings a day is the sweet spot for living longer comes from the data in this study — it doesn’t mean your body needs exactly five, just that eating more than that didn’t help more in these studies.
Scientific Claim
The threshold of five daily servings of fruit and vegetables for maximal mortality benefit is an empirical observation from this meta-analysis and does not imply a biological necessity or optimal intake level.
Original Statement
“There was a threshold around five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, after which the risk of all cause mortality did not reduce further... Possible mechanisms might involve the availability of nutrients and the digestibility of fruit and vegetables, but further studies are needed to confirm our results.”
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 frames the threshold as an empirical observation from the data, matching the study’s language and avoiding causal or prescriptive implications.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The study found that eating five servings of fruits and veggies a day lowers your risk of dying, but eating more than five doesn’t help any more — so five is a sweet spot based on data, not because your body needs exactly that much.