Last month, researchers in Thailand and South Africa presented a study at the Asian Psychological Association convention in Indonesia, showing fruit and vegetable consumption may increase happiness.
The researchers studied over 18,500 university students from 28 countries. They measured their happiness and depression levels and how many fruits and vegetables they ate. Then they used linear regression models to compare happiness and depression with fruit and vegetable consumption.
After controlling for multiple variables, they concluded that there’s a positive association between fruit and vegetable consumption and happiness. The opposite is true for depression. In other words, those who ate more fruits and vegetables appeared to be happier and those who ate fewer appeared to be more depressed.
So, if you’re struggling with depression or sadness, don’t forget to eat your fruits and veggies!