Recent European research has discovered that we may need eight daily portions of fruit and veg in our diets to reduce the possibility of dying from heart disease .
Most of us know we ought to be eating five portions of fruit and veg every day.
The diet and lifestyles of more than 300,000 people friom eight European countries discovered that those who ate a minimum of eight portions of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis had a 22% reduced risk of dying from heart disease than individuals who ate just three portions a day.
Each additional portion in fruit and veg intake was related to a 4% lesser risk of death.
A portion equates to 80 grams, or a small carrot, a small banana or a medium apple.
Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death within the UK and elsewhere around the world, accounting for a third of deaths annually in England.
The UK figures low on the fruit and veg league table. Other Europeans average at five portions of fruit and veg a day, whereas, UK men manage 4.1 daily portions and women 4.8.
The Swedes figure lower at 3.5 for men and and 2.9 portions for women.
There are factors such as cost and availability of fruit and veg which account for differences in intake.