5-a-day keeps oral cancer away

| 2 June 2006
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A major review of 16 studies has revealed that increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables you eat can reduce the risk of mouth (oral) cancer. The research showed that each additional serving of fruit reduced the risk of mouth cancer by 49 per cent and each additional serving of vegetables showed a 50 per cent reduction in mouth cancer. Some fruits were more effective than others; citrus fruits reduced the risk by a whopping 62 per cent. Even if your current intake is low, eating just one extra serving of fruit or vegetables per day could significantly reduce the risk of mouth cancer as well as lowering the risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and obesity.

Pavia M, Pileggi C, Nobile CG, Angelillo IF. 2006. Association between fruit and vegetable consumption and oral cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 83 (5) 1126-1134.

About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
I joined Viva! as a health campaigner in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. My scientific training helped me research and write numerous reports, guides and fact sheets for Viva! including Meat the Truth, Fish-Free for Life, One in Nine (breast cancer and diet) and the substantial report on the detrimental health effects of consuming dairy; White Lies. This accompanied Viva!’s report The Dark Side of Dairy which spelt out the inherent cruelty of dairy farming. We were the first UK group to take on the dairy industry in this way, and many of our supporters go vegan after reading these reports.

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