Fruit and Vegetables for Mood

Improve the way you feel with produce

Did you know that improving mental health may be as easy as increasing the number of servings of fruits and vegetables you eat in a day?

Mood is an important part of our daily lives, and it can have a big impact on how we interact with the world around us. Improving our mood can lead to greater happiness, better relationships, increased productivity, and improved overall health. And lucky for you, in addition to physical health benefits, eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables are one way to help improve mood while possibly improving stress and depression naturally too!

Processed, junk foods are full of empty calories.  When consumed, inevitably you have the energy burst, followed by a crash.  You may feel sluggish, gain weight or even experience depression and feelings of guilt.  Whereas when you consume a plant-based diet rich in unprocessed fruits and vegetables you avoid that cycle all together. In fact, studies suggest there is a  lower risk of depression and overall stress. 

One study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, reported that people who followed a diet rich in whole foods were less likely to feel depressed than those who ate mostly processed foods like desserts, fried foods, refined grains or processed meats. The researchers concluded that a diet that’s high in whole, unprocessed foods (including fresh fruits and vegetables) could protect against depression, while eating processed foods may increase risk.

Another study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition also suggests that incorporating more fruits, veggies, and soy products may potentially decrease symptoms of depression. 

Plant-based foods such as bananas, potatoes, avocadoes, and nuts are packed full of nutrients like B vitamins, fiber and antioxidants that can help improve mental wellbeing.  While more research needs to be done to explore the overall connection, simple dietary changes, such as following the MIND diet, have been shown to impact brain health – and you can start today! 

Published June 1, 2023