Fruit and vegetables are high in nutrients that are potentially protective against cancer. They also play an important role in weight management. As obesity is a known risk factor for cancer of the colon, breast (in post-menopausal women), endometrium, kidney and oesophagus, fruit and vegetables may also protect against cancer indirectly by helping to maintain a healthy body weight.
Cancer Council recommends that people eat a variety of different fruit and vegetables to obtain maximum benefits.
Although there has been a slight weakening of the evidence supporting the role of fruit and vegetables in reducing the risk of some cancers, overall the evidence is suggestive of a protective effect. Recent studies show that fruit and vegetables are protective against oral, laryngeal, oesophageal, colorectal and lung cancers.
This document summarises the evidence on how fruit and vegetable consumption can contribute to reducing cancer risk.