During the study, college-aged students were split into two groups. One group was given fresh fruit and vegetables to eat and the other was given produce vouchers and sent text message reminders to use them. Overall, those given the fresh produce had increased positive feelings of well-being. Many people are aware that eating healthy reduces disease risk, but this new finding on psychological effects opens a whole new door. Similar to exercise, do fruits and vegetables release hormones that change moods and feelings?
Interestingly, the group given vouchers did not have any improvements in vitality, flourishing or motivation, despite increasing their fruit and veggie intake. One explanation for this finding is the group given fruits and vegetables were given a variety of high quality, raw produce; whereas the voucher group often used it for habitual/nonvaried items or cooked the vegetables inside foods (such as vegetable lasagna).
Could the positive results be from consuming only raw produce? Possibly, yet the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables did not end up affecting mood (positive or negative) in any group. Keep in mind that the study period was only two weeks, and the students were still under the recommended servings of five fruits and vegetables a day. Although more research is needed, this study demonstrates that the average American who is not consuming the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables could see psychological benefits by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Bottom Line: We all know we should eat more fruits and vegetables every day. Motivate yourself to reach for some fresh produce instead of that bag of chips!
Written by: Kyla Greenwell, Wellness Workdays Dietetic Intern
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