We all know that fruit and vegetables are good for us. It’s recommended that we consume at least five portions per day and they are a fantastic source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. But while it’s no surprise to learn that fruits and veggies are great for the wellness of our bodies, it now seems that they can give a real boost to your mental and emotional health too.
According to new research conducted by the University of Otago in New Zealand, consuming more fruit and vegetables makes young people calmer, happier and more energetic. The study was conducted to look at the role that stress and mood has on the way that the student population eats. The study looked at 288 undergraduate students from the university.
After answering questions on their gender, ethnicity, weight and height, the students then kept a diary for 21 days. The students noted their levels of stress and moods, and also keep a note of their eating behaviours, including the number of portions of fruit and vegetables that they ate. The results showed that on days when students felt more positive they reported eating more fruit and vegetables.
Equally when the students reported feeling more negative emotions they also reported making unhealthier choices at mealtimes. The researchers suggested that these choices were driven by sadness and depression.
Of course this brings up the question; what came first – the unhealthy eating or the sad feelings? To find out the team began conducting additional analyses and found that eating fruits and vegetables made it more likely for the students to experience a positive mood the next day. This suggests that the food is a cause of the mood change.
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