Study Has Shown That Increased Fruit and Veg Makes You Happier
A large-scale study has found that eating up to 10 portions of fruit and vegetables each day; boosts emotional wellbeing more than securing a new job!
Researchers involved in the study, which involved 50,000 participants over 6 years, stated that their findings provide further evidence that ‘eating more fruit and vegetables may not only benefit your physical health in the long run but also your mental health in the short run’.
The study asked participants to complete The General Health Questionnaire, which asked about happiness levels, self worth and anxiety. Results from this questionnaire showed:
- A person’s mental health improves in proportion to the amount of fruit and vegetables they eat each day.
- Eating one extra portion of berries, greens or salad boosts someone’s mental wellbeing by the same amount as walking for an additional ten minutes for seven days over four weeks.
- Going from eating no fruit and vegetables to four-to-six portions a day boosts someone’s life satisfaction by the same amount as getting married.
- Cutting your consumption of fruit and vegetables by five portions each day causes the same emotional distress as being diagnosed with a chronic condition.
Research has suggested that the complex carbohydrates found within fruit and vegetables may boost levels of serotonin in the brain (feel good hormone). It has also been suggested that certain vitamins can help to lower inflammation and ‘internal stress’ associated with depression.
