Positive Effects of a Healthy Snack (Fruit) Versus an Unhealthy Snack (Chocolate/Crisps) on Subjective Reports of Mental and Physical Health: A Preliminary Intervention Study

Smith, Andrew Paul; Rogers, Rosannagh

doi:10.3389/fnut.2014.00010

Cited by 36 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Most of the current evidence is correlational, but experimental and micro‐longitudinal research suggests a causal link between FV and well‐being. Two recent intervention studies showed that daily fruit consumption reduced self‐reported anxiety across a 10‐day period (Smith & Rogers, ), and that eating two kiwifruits per day resulted in significant improvements among emotionally vulnerable men in self‐reported ‘vigour,' which included reports of feeling cheerful, energetic, lively, and full of pep (Carr et al ., ). Similar experimental effects have been found for high doses of vitamins B and C, which are found abundantly in FV (Kennedy et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

On carrots and curiosity: Eating fruit and vegetables is associated with greater flourishing in daily life

Conner

Brookie

Richardson

et al. 2014

British J Health Psychol

133

114

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Objectives. Our aim was to determine whether eating fruit and vegetables (FV) is associated with other markers of well-being beyond happiness and life satisfaction.Towards this aim, we tested whether FV consumption is associated with greater eudaemonic well-being -a state of flourishing characterized by feelings of engagement, meaning, and purpose in life. We also tested associations with two eudaemonic behaviours -curiosity and creativity.Design. Daily diary study across 13 days (micro-longitudinal, correlational design).Methods. A sample of 405 young adults (67% women; mean age 19.9 [SD 1.6] years) completed an Internet daily diary for 13 consecutive days. Each day, participants reported on their consumption of fruit, vegetables, sweets, and chips, as well as their eudaemonic well-being, curiosity, creativity, positive affect (PA), and negative affect. Between-person associations were analysed on aggregated data. Within-person associations were analysed using multilevel models controlling for weekday and weekend patterns.Results. Fruit and vegetables consumption predicted greater eudaemonic well-being, curiosity, and creativity at the between-and within-person levels. Young adults who ate more FV reported higher average eudaemonic well-being, more intense feelings of curiosity, and greater creativity compared with young adults who ate less FV. On days when young adults ate more FV, they reported greater eudaemonic well-being, curiosity, and creativity compared with days when they ate less FV. FV consumption also predicted higher PA, which mostly did not account for the associations between FV and the other well-being variables. Few unhealthy foods (sweets, chips) were related to well-being except that consumption of sweets was associated with greater curiosity and PA at the within-person level. Lagged data analyses showed no carry-over effects of FV consumption onto next-day well-being (or vice versa).Conclusions. Although these patterns are strictly correlational, this study provides the first evidence that FV consumption may be related to a broader range of well-being states that signal human flourishing in early adulthood. Statement of contributionWhat is already known on this subject?There is growing evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (FV) is related to greater happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect. These associations are not entirely explained by

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

On carrots and curiosity: Eating fruit and vegetables is associated with greater flourishing in daily life

Conner

Brookie

Richardson

et al. 2014

British J Health Psychol

133

114

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Among them, there are specific nutrients, which are known as such that may be related to mental health and for which fruit and vegetables are indicated as a valuable sources in diet, such as complex carbohydrates [20] and fiber [21], being associated with glycemic index [22], C vitamin [23], B vitamins [24], carotenoids [25], potassium [26], and polyphenols [27]. The other explanations are associated with either possibility of reverse mechanism (higher level of mental health may promote better diet, including higher fruit and vegetables intake) [28], or psychological explanation (following better diet, including higher fruit and vegetables intake may promote more positive emotions and better mental health) [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mental Health in Adults: A Systematic Review

et al. 2020

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The role of a properly balanced diet in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders has been suggested, while vegetables and fruits have a high content of nutrients that may be of importance in the case of depressive disorders. The aim of the study was to conduct a systematic review of the observational studies analyzing association between fruit and vegetable intake and mental health in adults. The search adhered to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and the review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42019138148). A search for peer-reviewed observational studies published until June 2019 was performed in PubMed and Web of Science databases, followed by an additional manual search for publications conducted via analyzing the references of the found studies. With respect to the intake of fruit and/or vegetable, studies that assessed the intake of fruits and/or vegetables, or their processed products (e.g., juices), as a measure expressed in grams or as the number of portions were included. Those studies that assessed the general dietary patterns were not included in the present analysis. With respect to mental health, studies that assessed all the aspects of mental health in both healthy participants and subjects with physical health problems were included, but those conducted in groups of patients with intellectual disabilities, dementia, and eating disorders were excluded. To assess bias, the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was applied. A total of 5911 studies were independently extracted by 2 researchers and verified if they met the inclusion criteria using a 2-stage procedure (based on the title, based on the abstract). After reviewing the full text, a total of 61 studies were selected. A narrative synthesis of the findings from the included studies was performed, which was structured around the type of outcome. The studies included mainly focused on depression and depressive symptoms, but also other characteristics ranging from general and mental well-being, quality of life, sleep quality, life satisfaction, flourishing, mood, self-efficacy, curiosity, creativity, optimism, self-esteem, stress, nervousness, or happiness, to anxiety, minor psychiatric disorders, distress, or attempted suicide, were analyzed. The most prominent results indicated that high total intake of fruits and vegetables, and some of their specific subgroups including berries, citrus, and green leafy vegetables, may promote higher levels of optimism and self-efficacy, as well as reduce the level of psychological distress, ambiguity, and cancer fatalism, and protect against depressive symptoms. However, it must be indicated that the studies included were conducted using various methodologies and in different populations, so their results were not always sufficiently comparable, which is a limitation. Taken together, it can be concluded that fruits and/or vegetables, and some of their specific subgroups, as well as processed fruits and vegetables, seems to have a positive influence on mental health, as stated in the vast majority of the included studies. Therefore, the general recommendation to consume at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day may be beneficial also for mental health.

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“…[16][17][18][19] There have also been 3 important small randomized controlled trials on nutritional counseling and on the provision of healthy food and snacks, [20][21][22] which find some evidence that a higher intake of fruits and vegetables may be associated with improved psychological health (as well as physical health). Another set of writings has tried to understand obesity and its links to subjective well-being.…”

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confidence: 99%

Evolution of Well-Being and Happiness After Increases in Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables

2016

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Objectives. To explore whether improvements in psychological well-being occur after increases in fruit and vegetable consumption.Methods. We examined longitudinal food diaries of 12 385 randomly sampled Australian adults over 2007, 2009, and 2013 in the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. We adjusted effects on incident changes in happiness and life satisfaction for people's changing incomes and personal circumstances.Results. Increased fruit and vegetable consumption was predictive of increased happiness, life satisfaction, and well-being. They were up to 0.24 life-satisfaction points (for an increase of 8 portions a day), which is equal in size to the psychological gain of moving from unemployment to employment. Improvements occurred within 24 months.Conclusions. People's motivation to eat healthy food is weakened by the fact that physical health benefits accrue decades later, but well-being improvements from increased consumption of fruit and vegetables are closer to immediate. Policy implications. Citizens could be shown evidence that "happiness" gains from healthy eating can occur quickly and many years before enhanced physical health. (Am J

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Positive Effects of a Healthy Snack (Fruit) Versus an Unhealthy Snack (Chocolate/Crisps) on Subjective Reports of Mental and Physical Health: A Preliminary Intervention Study

Cited by 36 publications

References 47 publications

On carrots and curiosity: Eating fruit and vegetables is associated with greater flourishing in daily life

On carrots and curiosity: Eating fruit and vegetables is associated with greater flourishing in daily life

Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mental Health in Adults: A Systematic Review

Evolution of Well-Being and Happiness After Increases in Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables

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