READING — A study published on June 8, 2026, in the journal Food and Function found that fewer than 20% of people in the United States and the United Kingdom meet the recommended flavanol intake level linked to heart health benefits. This finding persisted even among individuals who consumed five daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

The study was led by scientists from the University of Reading and involved collaborations with Harvard Medical School, the University of California Davis, and Mars, Inc. Researchers analyzed dietary data from more than 30,000 individuals located in the U.S. and U.K., utilizing biomarker measurements to assess their flavanol intake. Previous research, including the COSMOS study, indicated that a daily intake of 500 milligrams of flavanols could reduce the risk of death from heart disease.

Lead author Dr. Javier Ottaviani said, "Flavanols can significantly reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, but only if you consume enough of them." He added, "Most people assume that eating plenty of fruit and vegetables covers this, but what this research shows is that the specific choices you make matter far more than the total amount." Ottaviani also stated, "Including a handful of blackberries, a whole apple or having a cup of green tea alongside your meal could make a real difference to how much of these beneficial compounds you actually consume and absorb from the diet."

Co-author Professor Gunter Kuhnle of the University of Reading commented on the findings. Kuhnle said, "Five-a-day is the right message, but we may need to think more carefully about which five." He noted, "Different fruits and vegetables offer very different nutritional benefits beyond vitamins and minerals, and as our understanding of these compounds grows, there is a real opportunity to make dietary guidance more specific and more effective." Kuhnle described the research as "a step towards understanding what that might look like in practice." The study examined estimated flavanol consumption and did not directly measure cardiovascular outcomes.

Specific food items identified for their flavanol content include plums, containing approximately 450mg per 500g serving, and cranberries, with about 300mg per 250g serving. Blackberries provide around 250mg per 200g serving, while a 250ml cup of green tea contains approximately 200mg of flavanols. Other sources include broad beans (140mg per 80g), cherries (130mg per 400g), apples with skin (110mg per 200g), strawberries (90mg per 200g), blueberries (80mg per 150g), and pinto beans (70mg per 40g).