Kawashima A, Madarame T, Koike H, Komatsu Y, Wise JA. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2007;16(3):411-21. 2007 Fruit and vegetable consumption has been inversely associated with the risk of chronic diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease, with the beneficial effects attributed to a variety of protective antioxidants, carotenoids and phytonutrients.