Eating your fruits and veggies is good for you, specifically to help prevent chronic illness, according to a study from the University of Adelaide in Australia. The study analyzed data from over 1,000 Chinese participants over the course of five years and discovered a link between chronic illness and the amount of produce included in the diet.

Researchers found that those who consumed a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and specific grains decreased their risk of developing several chronic illnesses. Fruit, it seems, helps to ward off the onset of chronic illness, while vegetables help prevent individuals from developing a second chronic illness, if they already had one. It appears that having a diet high in fruits and vegetables is a tonic for improving health in general (Nicky Phillips, “Fruit, Veggies Delay Onset of Multiple Chronic Diseases, Study Reveals,” The Sydney Morning Herald at SMH.com.au, June 24, 2014).

In Genesis 1:29 God instructs Adam and Eve about the abundance of plants foods available to them, “And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food,’ ” (NKJV). Science continues to discover why this part of God’s creation is so powerful for good health, and how it can benefit us when we include it in our daily nutrition along with lean protein, whole grains, healthy fats, and dairy.