title: Plants, diet, and health.
abstract: Chronic disease is a major social challenge of the twenty-first century. In this review, we examine the evidence for discordance between modern diets and those on which humankind evolved as the cause of the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, and the evidence supporting consumption of plant foods as a way to reduce the risk of chronic disease. We also examine the evidence for avoiding certain components of plant-based foods that are enriched in Western diets, and review the mechanisms by which different phytonutrients are thought to reduce the risk of chronic disease. This body of evidence strongly suggests that consuming more fruits and vegetables could contribute both to medical nutrition therapies, as part of a package of treatments for conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and obesity, and to the prevention of these diseases. Plant science should be directed toward improving the quality of plant-based foods by building on our improved understanding of the complex relationships between plants, our diet, and our health.
authors: Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Center, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom. cathie.martin@jic.ac.uk
authors: Cathie
authors: C
authors: Martin
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Tonelli
authors: Katia
authors: K
authors: Petroni
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000737:chemistry; D014675:Vegetables