Announcement of new article publication Cardiovascular innovations and applications journal. Low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake is a major cause of preventable cardiovascular disease (CVD). Inadequate FV intake is estimated to be responsible for approximately 3 million CVD deaths and more than 70 million disability-adjusted life expectancies worldwide.
This review examines the overall pattern of FV uptake. Evidence linking FV intake and cardiovascular disease outcomes. Fundamental biological mechanisms determined through in vitro and in vivo studies. Serving size framework. Current global recommendations. Barriers to FV intake. Practical advice to increase your FV intake. Although global FV intake has increased slightly in recent decades, consumption remains well below recommended levels in all regions, and significant disparities exist between countries.
Evidence from individual fruit and vegetable randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses of intervention studies shows that FV intake improves cardiometabolic risk factors, and large prospective cohort studies consistently demonstrate an inverse association between FV intake and CVD incidence and mortality. Experimental mechanistic studies further support these findings by identifying common cardioprotective mechanisms mediated by FV-derived bioactive compounds. However, several practical and theoretical constraints limit recommendations for appropriate FV intake.
This review proposes a practical portion size framework based on macronutrient content. One serving of fruit contains approximately 15 g of carbohydrates (approximately 60 kcal), and one serving of vegetables contains approximately 5 g of carbohydrates (approximately 25 kcal). This review highlights the importance of promoting FV intake at both individual and population levels to reduce CVD risk and improve cardiovascular health by addressing key barriers and presenting practical dietary strategies.
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Reference magazines:
Jayawardena, R. others. (2026) The role of fruits and vegetables in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease: a narrative review. CVIA. DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2026.0020. https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2026.0020
