Diet rich in fruit and veg makes young people calmer and more energetic

According to nutritional wisdom, an apple a day can help keep your body healthy. Now researchers say it can also improve your state of mind. A team from the psychology department at the University of Otago in New Zealand asked 281 young people to complete a 21-day online food diary. At the end of the trial period, those who ate plenty of fruit and vegetables reported feeling calmer, happier and more energised. Those who ate junk food reported no difference in mood.

Head researcher Dr Tamlin Conner said: ‘On days when people ate more fruits and vegetables, they reported feeling calmer, happier and more energetic than they normally did.’

‘After further analysis we demonstrated that young people would need to consume approximately seven to eight total servings of fruits and vegetables per day to notice a meaningful positive change.’

One serving of fruit or vegetables is approximately the size that could fit in your palm, or half a cup.

To understand which comes first – feeling positive or eating healthier foods – Dr Conner and her team ran additional analyses and found that eating fruits and vegetables predicted improvements in positive mood the next day, suggesting that healthy foods may improve mood. Dr Conner added: ‘While this research shows a promising connection between healthy foods and healthy moods, further research is necessary such as the development of randomised control trials evaluating the influence of high fruit and vegetable intake on mood and well-being.’

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