The good news: Fruits and vegetables are good for you.

The bad news: They don't fight cancer as much as medical experts thought in the past.

A study published in the current issue of The Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that "an additional 200 grams a day of fruits and vegetables (about two servings) resulted in only a 3 percent reduction of cancer risk, which was described as "very weak,'' according to an article on CNN.com.

"This doesn't mean fruits and vegetables aren't important,'' said lead author Dr. Paolo Boffetta, deputy director at the Tisch Cancer Institute at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "They aren't the only factor. There is no one factor.''

Still, African Americans, who are more likely to die from heart disease than whites, should continue to consume fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet, experts say. A large body of evidence shows that increasing vegetable consumption is good for the heart, according to The New York Times. "Eating five or more fruit and vegetable servings daily was associated with a 30 percent lower risk of heart disease or stroke, compared to those who ate less than 1.5 servings a day, the article reported.

But the most recent study, conducted from 1992-2000, showed that people who consume more vegetables could have lower cancer rates because they lead "healthier lifestyles,'' the CNN article said, "such as lower intake of alcohol, never smoking, short duration of tobacco, and higher level of physical activity.''

The study followed the dietary lifestyles and habits of 478,478 European men and women. The results turn medical research on its head. For years, doctors have urged patients to consume more fruit and vegetables to achieve better health, especially to help fend off disease such as cancer. Cruciferous vegetables, such as collard greens, broccoli and kale, lead the pack because they are loaded with disease-fighting agents, including antioxidants that fight free radicals and beta carotene, which protects the body against cancer cells.

Now, medical experts are encouraging people to eat their fruits and vegetables because, well, they're good for you.