Eating five portions of fruit and veg daily slashes the risk of a stroke by more than a quarter, according to research.
Even those whose daily intake is just 200 grams – equivalent to about two and a half portions – are 13 per cent less likely to be struck down.
Consuming twice that amount – recommended by health experts – doubles the protection, say scientists.
The findings are based on more than 418,000 people across Europe – including the UK – who were tracked for about 13 years.
Study author Dr Tammy Tong, a nutritional epidemiologist at Oxford University, said: “Higher consumption of both dietary fibre and fruit and vegetables was strongly associated with lower risks of ischaemic stroke, which supports current European guidelines.
“The general public should be recommended to increase their fibre and fruit and vegetable consumption, if they are not already meeting these guidelines.”
Fewer than one in five Britons get their five-a-day.
A portion is defined as 80g of either fruit or vegetables – just under three ounces.
