Fruit
From the YapSpan Longevity Wiki · Updated 2026-10-01
Fruit is the fleshy, seed-bearing part of flowering plants that is usually eaten sweet or raw. Common examples include apples, pears, bananas, citrus fruit, berries, grapes and stone fruit such as peaches and plums. Whole fruit supplies dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium and many plant compounds. Fruit juice keeps much of the sugar but loses most of the fiber, and diet studies treat it separately from whole fruit.
In a meta-analysis (a study that pools the results of earlier studies) of prospective studies (studies that follow people forward in time) covering 12 food groups, each extra daily serving of fruit was associated with 6% lower all-cause mortality (death from any cause) [1]. The evidence is observational, so it shows an association rather than proof of cause.
- Each extra daily serving of fruit went with a relative risk (the risk in one group relative to another) of 0.94 for all-cause mortality, or 6% lower [1].
- A separate pooled analysis of cohort studies with 833,234 participants also found 6% lower all-cause mortality per daily serving of fruit [2].
- Above about five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, the risk of all-cause mortality did not fall further [2].
- Fruit juice was not linked to total or cause-specific mortality in two large US cohorts [3].
Related deep dives and quizzes
- Deep dive: The 8 things that matter most on your plate
- Quiz: Diet quiz
- Charts: What Matters charts
- Quizzes: All quizzes
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YapSpan estimates are for reflection and entertainment only. They are not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a prediction of any individual outcome. Check with a doctor before making any medical decision.