Ever feel like having a snack but can’t decide between an apple or some crisps? You might want to think about your mood.
Happier with Fruit
A study from Aston University found that people who regularly eat fruit feel better mentally.
They tend to be happier and show fewer signs of depression compared to those who don’t snack on fruit. Interestingly, it’s not about how much fruit you eat in a week but how often you eat it that counts.
Savory Snacks and Stress
On the other hand, those savory treats we love, like crisps, might not be the best choice for our minds. People who often eat these nutrient-light snacks tend to feel more anxious.
The Study’s Details
This study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, surveyed 428 adults in the UK. They wanted to see how eating different foods, like fruits, vegetables, sweet treats, and savory snacks, might connect to people’s mental health. They discovered:
- Eating fruit often means better mental health, regardless of how much fruit you eat.
- Savory snack lovers reported more “mental slip-ups,” like forgetting where they put things or names they should remember. These slip-ups were tied to feeling more stressed, anxious, and depressed.
- Vegetables and sweet snacks didn’t seem to affect these mental slip-ups.
Why Does This Happen?
Nicola-Jayne Tuck, the lead researcher, believes that the nutrients in fruits, like antioxidants and fiber, help our brains work better.
We usually eat fruit raw, so it keeps these helpful nutrients. On the flip side, savory snacks might not be feeding our brain what it needs.
While more research is needed, Tuck suggests that picking healthier snacks could be a simple way to feel better mentally.
Maybe the next time you’re looking for a snack, consider grabbing a piece of fruit. It’s a small change that might make a big difference in how you feel.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
The study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
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