Look on the Bright Side with Fruit and Veg

Do you feel better in yourself when you're eating more healthily? That's what many people find. It might be due to cutting out the processed snack foods with their higher fat and sugar content, which often leave people feeling sluggish. However, new research sheds light on another possibility. Eating more fruit and veg has been linked with feeling more positive. These optimists were found to have higher blood levels of carotenoids, which come from orange and green coloured fruit and vegetables. In the past, research has shown these antioxidants to be linked to better health in general, but this is the first time a connection with optimism has been studied.

This new research examined blood levels of various antioxidants in almost a thousand men and women in America spanning a fifty year age range, as well as their outlook on life. The most optimistic were found to have a 13% higher level of carotenoids in their blood than those with lower levels of optimism. This tied in with fruit and veg intake, with those consuming three or more portions daily being more optimistic than those eating two or fewer. However, the factors influencing mood and outlook are complex and dietary intake is only one such determinant.

The results from this latest research leads on from a study published in 2012, which found people eating seven or more portions of fruit and veg were the most happy; this association remained even when other lifestyle factors were controlled for. However, the mechanism was not investigated, though antioxidants might have the potential to act as a stress buster.


Photo by 4028mdk09 via Wikimedia Commons