Eating fruits and vegetables can decrease stress

As Americans have struggled with COVID-19 and all of the life, family and work changes it has forced on us, stress levels and mental health issues are higher than ever. A new study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition suggests there could be a simple solution - eat more fruits and vegetables. Studying the diet of almost 9000 adults of all ages, researchers found that people who ate at least 470 grams of fruit and vegetables each day had 10 percent lower stress levels than those who consumed less than 230 grams. Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables would be enough to meet that daily goal. While some stress is considered normal, long-term exposure to stress can greatly impact mental health. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, eating a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables could improve our mental wellbeing.