A recent joint WHO/FAO report, PDF file: 'Fruit and Vegetables for Health' (2004), on nutrition and chronic and degenerative diseases highlighted that a convincing association exists between the consumption of fruit and vegetables and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and other debilitating illnesses. This link is not fully understood but plants contain a range of bioactive components which may influence human health.

The health benefits of diets rich in fruit in vegetables may be derived, in part, from the intake of natural antioxidants. The main antioxidants in fruits are vitamin C and the polyphenols. Various research projects at SCRI are investigating different aspects of these.

• Bioavailability
• Anticancer phytochemicals
• Cardiovascular disease and phytochemicals
• Phytochemical-based pathogen control