Can you eat your way to better mental health?
We all know that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is good for our physical health, but a recent study out of the United Kingdom shows it could also benefit your mental health.
Researchers looked at a study of 50,000 individuals over a seven-year period. They monitored self-reports that tracked changes in fruit and vegetable consumption alongside mental well-being, or “life satisfaction”.
The reports indicated a rise in mental well-being as people ate more fruits and vegetables. These findings present evidence of the benefits fruits and vegetables have on our physical health in the long term and mental health in the short term.
“Making sure your plate is colorful is one of the most important pieces of advice I share with my patients,” says Mallory Storrs, a registered dietitian at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, Ill. “A diet made up of four to five daily servings of fruits and vegetables can make all the difference.”
Fruits and vegetables seem to be able to do it all, from maintaining glowing skin to preventing cancer; however, it’s important to note that those portions alone should not replace seeking medical treatment.
“Try incorporating a little more fruit and a lot more vegetables into your meals,” says Storrs. “A healthy diet has the power to improve the way we look and feel.”
March is National Nutrition Month. Achieve your nutrition and health goals with the help of our leading diet specialists, who take a holistic approach to care that includes education, behavior modification and lifestyle-change support. If you’re in Illinois, click here. If you’re in Wisconsin, click here.
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About the Author
Kelsey Sopchyk, health enews contributor, is a media relations coordinator at Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. She earned her BA in journalism and mass communications from the University of Iowa. In her spare time, you can find Kelsey tending to her plant children, trying new sushi restaurants in Chicago and cheering on the Cubs.
