Not that most people are eating even five servings of fruit and vegetables every day, but it turns out that might not be enough to get the best protection from disease and early death, said researchers in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
THE NEW amount? At least seven a day.
A MERE half cup of cooked leafy greens counts as a serving, as do roughly a dozen baby carrots or six asparagus spears, said Andy Bellatti, a registered dietitian. Still, in 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that only about a quarter of American adults ate vegetables three or more times a day.