Eating more fruits and veges, enhance mental health

Eating more fruits and veges, enhance mental health

No one would like to remain psychologically weak or upset by choice. The ups and downs in life compel them to do so. But there is always a solution to every problem. Fruits and vegetables are an essential part of healthy diet, but their benefits are not limited to physical health. New study finds that increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables may improve psychological comfort in just 2 weeks.

Study leader Dr.Tamlin Conner, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago in New Zealand, and colleagues found that young adults who consume extra fruits & vegetables daily for 14 days would experienced a boost in enthusiasm and energy.

The researchers in recent times reported their results in the journal PLOS One. As per to the United States Department of Agriculture, adults should eat around two bowls of fruits and about two to three bowls of vegetables daily.

One bowl of fruits is the equal to half a grapefruit or a large orange, and one bowl of vegetables is equivalent to one large red pepper or a large, baked sweet potato.

When you start eating healthy diet i.e. extra fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.

In recent years, studies have recommended that fruit and vegetables intake may also improve mental health.

Improve motivation, vitality with high ingestion of fruits and vegetables

The researchers registered 171 students aged between 18 and 25 to their study, and they were alienated into three groups for 2 weeks.

One group sustained with their usual eating routine, one group was handed over two additional servings of fruits & vegetables (comprises of carrots, kiwi fruit, apples and oranges) everyday, whereas the remaining group was given prepaid vouchers and received text reminders to consume more fruits and vegetables.

At the commencement and end of the study, participants were given psychological assessments that determined mood, energy, enthusiasm, symptoms of depression & anxiety and other states of mental health and well being.