Researchers followed over 2,500 participants for two decades. They placed the participants into three groups, based on how many fruits and veggies they consumed - the most, a medium amount and the lowest amounts.
Those who ate the highest number of fruits and veggies (more than five servings) had a twenty-six percent lower chance of developing calcified plaque twenty years later, when compared to those who ate the least.
A buildup of calcified plaque is the main cause of atherosclerosis, which can lead to stroke and heart attacks.
There is a connection between fruit and vegetable consumption with heart health in middle-aged people. This is the first study examining the diets of young adults.