Here's another reason for you to eat more fruits and vegetables, backed by science.
New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) says that eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is associated with experiencing less stress.
Examining 8,600 participants aged 25 to 91, the team found that people who ate at least 470 grams of fruit and vegetables daily had 10 per cent lower stress levels than those who consumed less than 230 grams.
Lead author of the study, published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, explained that long-term and unmanaged stress can lead to a range of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, depression and anxiety so there is a need to find ways to prevent and possibly alleviate mental health problems in the future.
The study notes that while the mechanics of how food is linked to our mood are unclear, nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, flavonoids and carotenoids present in fruit and vegetables, can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, and that might be helping improve our mental well being.