Key News in Family Medicine February 06, 2019 (2 of 3)

Eating more fruits and vegetables can improve your mental well-being, according to a new study. An essential feature of this work is that the study was able to follow the same individuals over time. The study also controlled for other factors that may affect mental well-being, such as age, educational level, income, income, and other factors. marital status, professional status, lifestyle and health, as well as the consumption of other foods such as bread or dairy products.

Research has shown a positive badociation between the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed and the mental well-being declared by people. Specifically, the results indicate that daily consumption of only one additional serving of fruits and vegetables could have an equivalent effect on mental wellbeing of about 8 additional days of walking per month (for at least 10 days). minutes at a time).

Neel Ocean, of the University of Leeds, who drafted the study with Dr. Peter Howley (University of Leeds) and Jonathan Ensor (York University), said:

"It is well established that the consumption of fruits and vegetables can be beneficial for physical health, and recent studies suggest that it may also be beneficial for psychological well-being." Our research is based on Previous work done in Australia and New Zealand by verifying this relationship with the help of a much larger UK Although additional work is needed to demonstrate the cause and effect, the results are clear: people who eat more fruits and vegetables report higher levels of mental well-being and life satisfaction than those who eat less. "

"There seems to be growing evidence of the psychological benefits of fruits and vegetables, but despite these data, the data show that the vast majority of Britons still consume less than their daily consumption five times a year." Encouraging better nutrition habits can not only be beneficial for long-term physical health, but also improve mental well-being in the short term. "

Dr. Ensor added, "This work is part of a larger project between our universities called" IKnowFood. "In addition to examining consumer behavior and well-being, IKnowFood explores how British farmers and global food supply chain companies become more resilient in the face of growing uncertainties about markets, regulation and the natural environment ".