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Summary: 7 daily portions of fruits and vegetables was linked to peak mental well-being.
Key Take Aways:
- Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables is not only for physical health.
- Consuming too little fruits and vegetables daily might not be for mental well-being.
- Unhealthy foods are everywhere, including in the workplace.
Most people are probably aware that eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily is part of a healthy, balanced diet. What is fascinating about this new research study is that their definition of healthiness included mental well-being also. Researchers from the University of Warwick studied 80,000 British citizens and their diets. Their findings indicated mental well-being was tied to how much fruit and vegetables they ate each day. Those who eat seven portions of fresh produce were experiencing the highest mental well-being.
"The statistical power of fruit and vegetables was a surprise. Diet has traditionally been ignored by well-being researchers," said study co-author Professor Sarah Stewart-Brown, Professor of Public Health at Warwick Medical School. (Source: MedicalExpress)
The cause and effect relationship between eating seven portions a day of fresh produce was not established by the research, but it indicated there could be a correlation, meaning there is likely to be some association.
It could be that people who eat fresh produce daily are more dedicated to taking care of themselves and are happier to begin with. If that is the case, the study still documented something important. It might also be that people who are disciplined about eating healthy foods also exercise more and regular cardiovascular exercise is associated with happiness. (Regular cardio exercise is also an anti-depressant.)
Another possibility is that people who have a healthier diet are growing their own food, and exposure to a soil bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae might be a natural anti-depressant.
In the workplace, there are too often unhealthy foods available, such as the common fare found in vending machines. Processed foods containing large amounts of sugar, fat and salt are linked to obesity, heart disease and diabetes. The Harvard School of Public Health calls the very strong presence of unhealthy foods an obesogenic or obesity generating environment.
Creating and maintaining access to healthy produce in the workplace might help workers be happier and physically more fit.
Image Credit: Ranveig, Wiki Commons
