It is well established that fruits and vegetables are good for us. Now, a new study provides further evidence of this, finding that eating more fruits and vegetables in young adulthood may benefit heart health 20 years later.
Published in the journal Circulation, the research reveals that young adults who ate an average of seven to nine portions of fruits and vegetables daily were significantly less likely to have calcified coronary artery plaque 2 decades later than those with low intake of fruits and vegetables.
The presence of calcified coronary artery plaque can be an indicator of atherosclerosis - a hardening of the arteries that can increase the risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease.