Veg-rich diet ‘decreases lung cancer risk’

Eating a diet that contains lots of vegetables can lower a person's risk of developing lung cancer, a study has suggested.

Researchers from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands also found that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables could decrease the risk of squamous cell lung cancer, especially among smokers.

Dr H Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita, senior scientist at the institute, explained that fruits and vegetables contain a number of different bioactive compounds.

"It makes sense to assume that it is important that you not only eat the recommended amounts, but also consume a rich mix of these bioactive compounds by consuming a large variety," he added.

For those more concerned about the health of their other organs, Linda Main, dietetic advisor for the charity Heart UK, recently said that a diet rich in oily fish can reduce a person's risk of coronary heart disease.