This critical review evaluates the association between the consumption of vegetables and fruit and the risk of several chronic diseases. The review analyzed existing studies on obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, osteoporosis, eye diseases, and dementia. The strength of evidence was determined based on study quality, number of studies, and design. For hypertension, CHD, and stroke, there is convincing evidence that increasing vegetable and fruit consumption reduces disease risk. There is probable evidence that vegetable and fruit consumption is inversely associated with cancer risk. Possible evidence suggests that increased consumption may prevent weight gain, which could indirectly reduce type 2 diabetes risk. There is also possible evidence that vegetable and fruit consumption lowers the risk of certain eye diseases, dementia, and osteoporosis. Current data suggest that increased vegetable and fruit consumption may help prevent asthma, COPD, and RA. However, insufficient evidence exists for IBD, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. The review concludes that high daily intake of vegetables and fruit promotes health. Therefore, national campaigns to increase vegetable and fruit consumption are justified. Promoting vegetable and fruit consumption through nutrition and health policies is a preferable strategy to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in Western societies. The review highlights the importance of vegetable and fruit consumption in disease prevention, particularly for conditions like hypertension, CHD, stroke, and cancer. While the evidence for some diseases is strong, the evidence for others is less clear, and further research is needed to confirm these associations.This critical review evaluates the association between the consumption of vegetables and fruit and the risk of several chronic diseases. The review analyzed existing studies on obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, osteoporosis, eye diseases, and dementia. The strength of evidence was determined based on study quality, number of studies, and design. For hypertension, CHD, and stroke, there is convincing evidence that increasing vegetable and fruit consumption reduces disease risk. There is probable evidence that vegetable and fruit consumption is inversely associated with cancer risk. Possible evidence suggests that increased consumption may prevent weight gain, which could indirectly reduce type 2 diabetes risk. There is also possible evidence that vegetable and fruit consumption lowers the risk of certain eye diseases, dementia, and osteoporosis. Current data suggest that increased vegetable and fruit consumption may help prevent asthma, COPD, and RA. However, insufficient evidence exists for IBD, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. The review concludes that high daily intake of vegetables and fruit promotes health. Therefore, national campaigns to increase vegetable and fruit consumption are justified. Promoting vegetable and fruit consumption through nutrition and health policies is a preferable strategy to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in Western societies. The review highlights the importance of vegetable and fruit consumption in disease prevention, particularly for conditions like hypertension, CHD, stroke, and cancer. While the evidence for some diseases is strong, the evidence for others is less clear, and further research is needed to confirm these associations.