One of the most commonly-held beliefs regarding health and nutrition in the UK has been found to be untrue, according to a new scientific study.
For many years British people have been __1__ to eat at least 'five- a-day' – that is five items of fruit or vegetables every day__2__ improve their health and __3__ the likelihood of illness, __4__ cancer.
The recommendation was first __5__in 1990 by the World Health Organization which said that the 'five-a-day' diet could __6__ cancer and other chronic diseases.
__7__ the advice has been a mainstay (支柱) of public health policies in many developed countries, such as the UK, __8__ the population eat a high__9__ of junk food.
Many health campaigns have __10__ the advice, and indeed much food packaging in Britain states how the __11__ will constitute part of your five- a-day.
_12___, a study of 500,000 Europeans from 10 different countries refutes (驳斥) the commonly-believed __13__ that up to 50% of cancers could be prevented by _14___ the public's consumption of fruit and vegetables.
Instead the study, which is _15__ by researchers from a well-respected New Yorkmedical school, __16__ that only 2.5% of cancers could be averted by eating more fruit and vegetables.
It seems that the __17__ to avoiding cancers is to have an overall healthy lifestyle __18__ includes not smoking or drinking a lot of alcohol, taking exercise and avoiding obesity (肥胖症).
But medical charities have spoken out to __19__ people that diet is an important factor in staying healthy, and that even a 2.5% reduction __20__ cancers is still a positive step.