Smokers: Eat your greens!

Eating more vegetables could increase your life expectancy by up to two years, a study claims.

The benefits for smokers are even greater, with a healthy diet extending life expectancy by a little more than two years.

The Italian study showed an intake of 60g of vegetables a day can extend male life expectancy by an average two years as against those who eat less than 20g a day.

The findings, published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology, highlight the extent to which a diet rich in fruit and vegetables protects against ill health. Although the benefits are well known, this is believed to be one of the first studies to translate them into life expectancy.

However, Dr Fulvia Seccareccia of the University of Perugia warned: "Any increased protection to smokers only serves to narrow the gap in longevity with nonsmokers, not to close it."