According to the article in Circulation, the researchers carried out extensive studies involving thousands of adults over a span of more than 25 years. The first study, spanning from 1984 to 2014, included over 66,000 women, while the second study, which ran from 1986 to 2014, encompassed over 42,000 men. Throughout these lengthy studies, the researchers closely tracked what the participants ate and how healthy they were.
To ensure the reliability of their findings, the researchers didn’t stop at their own studies. They also looked at data from 26 other studies. They considered whether factors like how old someone is, if they smoke, or how much they exercise could change the results. What they found matched up with what they expected. As people ate more fruits and vegetables, their chances of living a long life went up. Eating about five servings every day was linked to a 13% lower risk of passing away early compared to only having two servings per day.
