Why eat fruits and vegetables?

Most of us have heard of colon cancer, sometimes called colorectal cancer. Rectal cancer may be a less familiar term. The rectum, where rectal cancer occurs, is located at the end of the large intestine; it is about 7 inches long. About 1 of 8 deaths from colorectal cancer is due to rectal cancer. Some, but not all, studies of colon cancer have found that high fiber diets reduce risk. Do high fiber diets reduce risk of rectal cancer?

Researchers from the University of Utah examined 952 people with rectal cancer and compared them to 1,205 people without rectal cancer. Subjects were asked to recall their diet two years before the start of the study, which, for the people with cancer, was two years before their cancer was diagnosed. Fruit, vegetables, and whole-grains were associated with a reduced risk of developing rectal cancer. High intakes of dietary fiber also reduced the risk of cancer. While some may question whether a person's diet two years before they are diagnosed with cancer reflects their lifetime diet, these results are consistent with other studies of colorectal cancer that show that diets high in vegetables and fruits can help to protect against this disease.

Vegetarian Journal, by Reed Mangels
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDE/is_3_23/ai_n6140639
High Fiber Health