If you are in a bad mood, then it is common that your body to start to look for ways to ease the negative mood you are in. For the most part, this can come in the form of eating. Eating is often a way to give our body something it craves, or to take our mind off how we feel. However, a study in 2016 found that eating the right kind of food can have a positive impact on our mental well-being.
Instead of chewing down on chocolate bars and gorging on ice cream, turning to fruit and vegetables can be just what you are looking for. The study took over 40,000 people into the study, and it provided a good range of insight into the benefits of eating fruit and vegetables in terms of our mental health.
The study was able to conclude that regular intake of fruit and veg can have a positive impact on our mood. We are generally going to be more mentally comfortable and more satisfied with our lot in life if we are eating lots of greens and fruits.
Why does this seem to work?
The main finding of the study was that fruit and vegetable consumption had a positive impact on our psychological mindset and profile. The finding showed that people generally had higher levels of vitality and greater mental motivation. They also seemed to be more capable of dealing with stress and negativity – two key impacts on our mental health.
The study, though, does have to be backed up with more data and insight in the future. Despite having a large number of participants and some pretty clear conclusions, this is only the first phase in this kind of testing. Still, if you are someone who has a habit of reaching for candy as soon as things get tough, reach for an apple or an orange instead.
A bit more fruit and veg in your life could give your mind the extra benefits it needs to fight off stress without having to go for the short-term dopamine hit of a savory or sweet treat.