Fruit and vegetables could be better for you than drugs when it comes to fighting disease, doctors have said.

Naturally occurring chemicals can be harnessed to create special supplements to treat cancer and heart disease, they claimed.

Dr Paul Clayton, of Westminster University, presented his finding to the Royal Society of Medicine and said: “This could be as important as the discovery of antibiotics.”

Researchers hope to create "functional foods" containing a concentrated mix of natural chemicals.

Clayton added: "We believe these foods can help treat, protect against and even reverse the effects of major diseases. We hope to create a fruit that contains a selection of these chemicals in a concentrated form.”

Researchers will also reveal a grape extract with the benefits of red wine, a bread that boosts the immune system, and spices that fight the effects of stress.

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