Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen an avalanche of clinical studies saying – in one way or another – that eating more fruits and veggies is good for our physical health. Now, a new study from the UK suggests that increased Produce consumption is also good for our brains…
A farmer’s market fresh Produce display. Let’s all find ways
to include more fresh Fruit and Veggies in our diets!
What they did…
Researchers at the University of Leeds studied long-term health survey data from some 40,000 people in the UK looking for correlations between diet and mental health.
They were careful to control the results of their data mining operation to eliminate possible skewing factors that can effect mental health status such as age, education, income, marital status, employment status, lifestyle and health, as well as consumption of other foods such as bread or dairy products.
What they found…
A digest of the study findings states:
The research showed a positive association between the quantity of fruit and vegetables consumed and people’s self-reported mental well-being.
Specifically, the findings indicate that eating just one extra portion of fruits and vegetables a day could have an equivalent effect on mental well-being as around 8 extra days of walking a month (for at least 10 minutes at a time).
The takeaway…
Co-author of the study report Dr. Neel Ocean of the University of Leeds said:
“It’s well-established that eating fruit and vegetables can benefit physical health. Recently, newer studies have suggested that it may also benefit psychological well-being. Our research builds on previous work in Australia and New Zealand by verifying this relationship using a much bigger UK sample.
“While further work is needed to demonstrate cause and effect, the results are clear: people who do eat more fruit and vegetables report a higher level of mental well-being and life satisfaction than those who eat less.”
My take…
Looking at the big picture on Fruit and Veggie consumption, it should be no surprise to find that greater indulgence in Produce makes you feel better as well mentally as well as physically. It just males sense that the two go hand in hand.
The problem, as I see it, rests in the abiding high price of Fruits and Veggies, which can preclude folks at lower income levels, seniors on fixed incomes and other financially handicapped population segments from eating as much Produce as they should.
And let’s not forget the predisposition of convenience-addicted folks – mainly the younger, Gen-X and Millennial set – to embrace the kinds of food that can be had quickly and easily, such as Fast Food and take-out meals, processed microwavable products, and Salty, Sweet and Fatty Snacks that can be ‘scarfed on the run’ to quell one’s stomach rumblings during a busy day.
It’s not that the principle of eating more Fruits and Veggies is hard to adopt; it’s that the logistics of making that equally attractive to and possible for everyone are difficult to arrange.
~ Maggie J.