Eating our five-a-day improves our mental health too

Eating our five-a-day is supposed to be good for our bodily health-but it seems it is just as good for our mental wellbeing too.

People who don’t eat their fruit and vegetables are far more likely to suffer ‘low mental wellbeing’, which is linked to mental illness and mental health problems, such as depression.

Conversely, those who eat at least five servings a day are more likely to be optimistic, happy, have high self-esteem, be resilient and have good relationships with others. ‘High mental wellbeing’ not only protects against common mental problems, it also impacts positively on our general health, too, say researchers from the University of Warwick.

In an assessment of the mental health of around 14,000 participants, the researchers say that a healthy diet is only one factor in determining our sense of wellbeing, but when it comes to our mental outlook, it’s an overlooked one.

(Source: BMJ Open, 2014; 4: e005878)

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