Protective Impact of Fruits and Vegetable Intake on Cardiovascular Risk Factors-A Review

Consumption of fruits and vegetables is essential for maintaining good health and longevity as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and phytochemicals. High consumption of fruit and vegetable prevents several non-communicable and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, and obesity. Despite these positive benefits associated with to high intake of fruits and vegetables, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates 6.7 million deaths worldwide attributable to inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption in 2010. An inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables is considered to be a cause for around 11% of Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD) deaths, 9% of stroke deaths and about 14% of gastrointestinal cancer deaths and is stated to be among top ten risk factors for mortality globally. The present review paper is an attempt to highlight the protective impact of fruit and vegetable intake on cardiovascular risk factors.