People believe that if they consume five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, they will stay healthy, but a new research discovered that following this eating pattern may not have a considerable effect on cancer.

The research conducted by a team at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York, suggested that for every additional two portions consumed the risk of cancer is reduced by mere 3%. Earlier the experts believed that thousands of cancer cases could be evaded if Britons drank less alcohol and maintained a healthy weight.

A trial was conducted across Europe including Britain, involving more than 400,000 people in the same. Average was around 335 grams of fruit and vegetables a day. It varied to a great extent between the countries as people in Sweden ate the least while those in Spain gobbled the most.

Though, the diet managed to reduce the risk of heart disease and should still be recommended, yet no connection could be established between consuming fruit and vegetables and cancer.

Dr Walter Willett, of the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, America said, "In summary, the findings from the EPIC cohort add further evidence that a broad effort to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables will not have a major effect on cancer incidence".

He added that people who consume five portions a day had a 30% lower risk of cardiovascular disease as compared to those who eat an average of 1.5 portions a day.