A study says eating lots of vegetables may not greatly reduce the risk of heart attacks. People usually believe it is important to eat vegetables. The study says other things may affect our heart. These include other things we eat, exercise, where we live, our income, and if we smoke or drink. Almost 400,000 people took part in the study. They answered questions about their lifestyle, diet, and what raw and cooked vegetables they ate.

The scientists said people should eat lots of vegetables. Their study found the risk of dying from heart disease was 15 per cent lower for people who ate the most vegetables. However, they said other factors also caused this 15% reduction. A researcher said: "Our large study did not find evidence for a protective effect of vegetable intake on the occurrence of cardiovascular disease". He said differences in money and lifestyle also affected the heart.