The first study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine 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 plus seafood, whole grains and plant oils.

The research 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.

The second study from Tufts published in Science Daily found that one in seven cardiovascular deaths could be attributed to not eating enough fruit while one in 12 of these deaths could be attributed to not eating enough vegetables. Put another way, low fruit and veggie consumption resulted in an estimated three million deaths from heart disease or stroke.

“These findings indicate a need to expand the focus to increasing availability and consumption of protective foods like fruits, vegetables, and legumes — a positive message with tremendous potential for improving global health,” according to the study.