Eating at least seven daily portions of fruit and vegetables can help to stay protected from some life-threatening diseases and also keep a watch on weight, suggests a study conducted by a team of researchers from Harvard.

People aiming to lose weight while still eating healthy might look towards vegetables, such as corn and peas, but as these vegetables are high in starch they might not be the best route.

The study researchers found that non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage might actually help with weight loss, as the team found that as the consumption of such vegetables rose, the risk of excessive weight gain reduced.

The team that presented their findings in the journal PLOS Medicine examined the diet habits and weight changes in over 133,000 men and women for almost 24 years. They found that eating more fruit and specific vegetables helped greatly in weight loss.

The researchers also found that the consumption of high fiber, low glycemic load foods, such as cauliflower and kale was associated with greater weight loss as compared with high glycemic load foods such as carrots.

“The researchers claim that the study might provide further food-specific guidance for the prevention of obesity, a primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and many other health conditions”, HealthDay News reported.

Another study conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which was published earlier this year, found that less than 15%of the adult population in the United States gets enough fruits on a daily basis.