Previously the guideline was to eat five different kinds of fruit and vegetables a day, and some people found that wasn't easy. Now, studies have shown that although five a day is good, ten a day is even better - people who ate ten different portions of fruit and vegetables a day suffered an 18% reduced risk of stroke, a 16% reduced risk of heart disease, a 13% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, 4% reduced risk of cancer of all kinds and a 15% reduction in the risk of premature death. It sounds good but for those who only manage to eat a tomato in their ham sandwich is it even possible? The scientists recommend that the fruit and veg are all different and no more than three portions can be fruit, so you can't even have ten satsumas whilst watching telly and call it a day. Actually, it isn't all that hard. Just swap snacks for a piece of fruit, add a side salad to lunch, and add vegetables to dinner. Get creative, you might even enjoy it.

Five portions of fruit and veg a day is good for you, but 10 is much better and could prevent up to 7.8 million premature deaths worldwide every year, say scientists.

The findings of the study led by Imperial College London may dismay the two in three adults who struggle to manage three or four portions – perhaps some tomatoes in a sandwich at lunchtime, an apple and a few spoonfuls of peas at dinner.

All of that is good because a daily intake of even 200g, or two and a half standard 80g portions, is associated with a 16% reduced risk of heart disease, an 18% reduced risk of stroke, a 13% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, 4% reduced risk of cancer and a 15% reduction in the risk of premature death.

First, People should aim to eat at least five portions of vegetables and fruit a day but the more the better. If people find this hard, why not start by adding an extra portion of fruit or veg a day to your lunch or try swapping one of your naughty snacks for a piece of fruit?”

No they are clearly set as 'stretch targets'.They are also absolute nonsence as practical targets because vast swaithes of most populatons simply can't afford to pay for this scale of fruit and veg per person. In addition if you ask an average person what is meant by a portion they most likely wouldn;t have a clue either as a measure or unit of measure is never mentioned in publicity.

It does provide some positive basis to put a public message out there and with public health systems costing more and more it does provide some return on the cost of publicising the message for the public authority/government department promoting the ethos

NO. because they say if you eat over 2 or 3 fruits a day you can be in the hospital so my advice do not eat over that amount cause it will hurt you. cause i know a few people that it has happend too.