Based on a study conducted by Aston University’s College of Health and Life Sciences, individuals who consume fruits regularly demonstrate a lower risk of experiencing depression and exhibit a more robust positive mental state compared to those who do not include fruit in their diet.
Birmingham, UK (Merxwire) – Do you often have fruits on your plate? Sweet and juicy fruit not only cools and relieves heat in hot summer but also eliminates edema and beautifies the skin. On top of that, new research shows that eating fruit regularly can help maintain mental health; now, you have even more reasons to eat more fruit!
According to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers looked at the relationship between eating habits (eating fruits, vegetables, sweet and salty snacks) and mental health in 428 adults. They found that the more often people ate fruit, The lower the depression score and the higher the mental health score.
The research team especially emphasized that the frequency of eating mentioned here is not the amount of eating, and the number of eating is more important than the total amount consumed. The study assessed the relationship between diet and depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being and found that nutrient-dense fruits could support mental health. At the same time, nutrient-deficient salty snacks had adverse effects. But interestingly, the team did not find a direct link between vegetable consumption and mental health.
It is speculated that the reason may be related to the fact that fruits are rich in brain-healthy antioxidants, fiber, and essential micronutrients. Although vegetables are also rich in these nutrients, they are gradually lost in the process of heating and cooking. Fruits do not need to be heated to eat; relatively speaking, they retain the nutrients ultimately, so eating fruits can help our mental health better than eating vegetables.
Lead study author Nicola-Jayne Tuck believes that frequent eating of nutrient-poor, salty snacks increases the chance of everyday forgetfulness, such as forgetting where things are, forgetting the purpose of entering certain rooms, or suddenly forgetting the names of acquaintances. Those things will affect our mental health.
Maybe you should try to adjust the snack cabinet at home, replace the biscuits and potato chips with fresh fruit, and replace snacks with fruit. This change is worth it for your and your family’s health. But there is also one point that needs special attention. Fruits with too high a sweetness can easily affect the changes in blood sugar or accumulate too much sugar in the body and cause obesity. It is recommended to pay more attention when choosing.
