Workplace fruit baskets could well play a role in increasing the length of people’s lives, new research has suggested.

Financial services provider Norwich Union has identified a number of different factors which could result in people living for longer – and fruit was one of the front runners.

The company cites research carried out by Erasmus University in Rotterdam, which suggests a diet that includes daily consumption of fruit could extend life expectancy by up to 6.6 years.

Other foodstuffs identified by the academic institution as having a positive impact on length of life include garlic, wine, vegetables, almonds and dark chocolate.

Darren Dicks, head of annuities at the company, comments: "A person’s life expectancy is pre-determined to some extent by their genetic make-up, but there are a number of steps people can take to give themselves the best chance of living longer."

In recent days, a Heart Research UK representative noted a well-balanced diet which includes eating fruit on a daily basis, helps to improve heart health.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 at 11:58 am and is filed under Office Fruit Blog-2010. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.