Fruit and veg 'better than drugs'

Fruit and vegetable extracts could be more effective at beating disease than current drugs, doctors said today.

They claim naturallyoccurring chemicals can be harnessed to create supplements able to treat cancer and heart disease.

"This could be as important as the discovery of antibiotics," said Dr Paul Clayton of Westminster University, who was presenting the findings to the Royal Society of Medicine today.

Researchers hope to create "functional foods" containing a concentrated mix of natural chemicals.

"We believe these foods can help treat, protect against and even reverse the effects of major diseases," said Dr Clayton. "We hope to create a fruit that contains a selection of these chemicals in a concentrated form."

Researchers will also reveal a grape extract with the benefits of red wine, a bread that boosts the immune system, and spices that fight the effects of stress.