Yet another peer-reviewed study shows the significant health benefits of eating fruits and veggies.  A team of researchers from Tufts University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston analyzed the effects of healthful food “prescriptions.” The study determined that “prescriptions” for healthy foods could save more than $100 billion in healthcare costs.  The healthy foods included fruits and veggies (of course!) plus seafood, whole grains and plant oils.

The study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, followed adults between the ages of 35 and 80 who were enrolled in Medicare and/or Medicaid. It established two scenarios: One in which Medicare/Medicaid covered the cost of 30% of fruits and vegetables, the other covered fruits, vegetables, seafood, whole grains, plant oils, and other healthy foods.

The first scenario found that “prescriptions” for fruits and veggies would prevent 1.93 million cardiovascular events (such as heart attacks) and 350,000 deaths, as well as cut healthcare costs by $40 billion. The second scenario would prevent 3.28 million cardiovascular events, 620,000 deaths, and 120,000 cases of diabetes and save the U.S. healthcare system $100 billion.

“Both scenarios were cost-effective at five years and highly cost-effective at 10 and 20 years and over a lifetime,” according to the study.

This study complements decades of nutritional research that show the amazing benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables per day. Most of these studies were conducted using conventionally grown produce.

Read, learn, choose but eat more organic and conventional fruits and veggies for better health and a longer life.