Looking for a sweet way to take a big bite out of your risk for cardiovascular disease? Go eat some fruit! In an evaluation that included over 450,000 Chinese adults followed over a seven-year period, those consuming fruit regularly enjoyed a significant reduction in the risk for heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure. Study subjects who consumed fruit daily slashed their risk of cardiovascular disease by 25-40% relative to those who never ate fruit. The researchers noted a direct dose response relationship – meaning the more, the better. So eating fruit a few days a week is better than none, but daily is best. Because our arteries are truly the “rivers of life,” eating fruit is arguably one of the easiest and most palate-pleasing ways to boost health and vitality. (European Society of Cardiology Meeting, September 2014)
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