A new study found that psychological well-being improves with each portion of fruit and vegetables. Levels of happiness increased for each extra portion and peaked at eight a day. For those who shunned a healthy diet in the past, the equivalent boost in life satisfaction was compared to that felt by going from unemployed to landing a job. And the emotional boost can happen immediately.
The study was the first major scientific attempts to explore psychological well-being beyond the traditional finding that fruit and vegetables can reduce risk of cancer and heart attacks.
Professor Andrew Oswald at Warwick University said: “Eating fruit and vegetables apparently boosts our happiness far more quickly than it improves human health.”
The study suggests it may be possible eventually to link this study to current research into antioxidants which suggests a connection between optimism and carotenoid in the blood.