Higher Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables Is Associated With Lower Worries, Tension and Lack of Joy Across the Lifespan

Abstract

Background and AimsHigher total fruit and vegetable (FV) intakes have been associated with lower perceived stress. However, the relationship of FV intake with domains of perceived stress is unclear. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between consumption of FV and four perceived stress domains (worries, tension, lack of joy and demands) in a population-based cohort of Australian adults.MethodsParticipants (n = 8,640) were men and women aged ≥25 years from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) Study. Dietary intake was assessed using a 74-item validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Perceived stress domains were determined using a validated 20-item version of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire, with higher scores representing higher perceived stress. Cut-offs for high perceived stress domains were obtained from the highest quartiles of each domain for each sex. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was performed to investigate cross-sectional associations.ResultsThe mean age of participants (50.1% females) was 47.8 (SD 15) years. Those with higher intakes of FV, combined and separately, had a significantly lower odds (16–36%) for higher worries, tension and lack of joy, independent of other lifestyle factors.ConclusionIn Australian adults, higher consumption of FV was associated with lower odds of worries, tension and lack of joy. Following the dietary guidelines for the recommended intake of FV may help improve feelings of worries, tension and lack of joy, which are linked to mental health problems.

Breakfast quality and its sociodemographic and psychosocial correlates among Italian children, adolescents, and adults from the Italian Nutrition & HEalth Survey (INHES) study

“…While there is not a clear biological mechanism linking breakfast consumption directly to mental health, studies have indicated that a higher intake of fruits and vegetables within the overall diet is associated with reduced odds of experiencing worries, tension, and a lack of joy in adults, independently of other lifestyle factors [ 20 ]. Several nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains, eggs, and dairy products are rich in nutrients involved in mental health, endogenous serotonin production, and mood regulation such as magnesium, calcium, tryptophan [ 47 , 48 ], and choline [ 49 ].…”

“…Observational studies of breakfast consumption in association with mental health are also emerging [ 10 – 12 ]. In addition to the regularity of breakfast intake, specific foods and the quality of breakfast could be crucial for achieving beneficial effects on mental health [ 10 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Properties of Dietary Flavone Glycosides, Aglycones, and Metabolites on the Catalysis of Human Endoplasmic Reticulum Uridine Diphosphate Glucuronosyltransferase 2B7 (UGT2B7)

“…Flavone glycosides, their aglycones, and metabolites are commonly in foods of plant origin, major phytochemicals, and necessary for disaster risk reduction [1,2]. Intake of flavonols in the diet is important to improve lifespan through the regulation of the basic physiological metabolism [3,4] and mitochondria quality [5,6]. However, there are many forms of natural flavonoids and their derivatives, and there are still many unknown patterns of their absorption and metabolism within cells.…”