It has long been thought that we cannot change the effect that our genes have in the body.  However, new research (1,2) suggests that the gene (known as 9p21) which is the strongest marker for heart disease can actually be modified by generous amounts of fruit and raw vegetables. In a press release (2) Dr. Jamie Engert, joint principal investigator of the study said “We know that 9p21 genetic variants increase the risk of heart disease for those that carry it,” “But it was a surprise to find that a healthy diet could significantly weaken its effect.” The research involved analysis of more than 27,000 individuals from five ethnicities (European, South Asian, Chinese, Latin American and Arab) and the impact that their diets had on the effect of the 9p21 gene.  The research represents one of the largest gene-diet interaction studies ever conducted on cardiovascular disease. The results suggest that individuals with the high risk genotype who consumed a prudent diet, composed mainly of raw vegetables, fruits and berries, had a similar risk of heart attack to those with the low risk genotype. Sonia Anand joint principal investigator of the study said (2) “We observed that the effect of a high-risk genotype can be mitigated by consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables,” “Our results support the public health recommendation to consume more than five servings of fruits or vegetables as a way to promote good health.”  Lead study author Dr Ron Do added “Our research suggests there may….