We are always told that five portions of fruit and vegetables are enough to keep disease away and to live longer. A new study now says people who eat seven portions a day are healthier. Researchers studied the eating habits of 65,000 adults over seven years. They said that there was a strong "inverse" relationship between eating fruit and vegetables and death with people who ate more fruit and vegetables.

The researchers said people who ate up to seven portions a day had a 42 per cent lower risk of death than those who had just one portion. They said schools should serve healthier meals and supermarkets should display cheaper fruit and vegetables where people can see them better. They said frozen and canned fruit was bad for you. A dietician said people who ate more fruit and veg were richer, so their lifestyles helped them to live longer.