Furry fruits like Kiwi may improve mental health faster: Research

Kiwifruit has proven to be a powerful mood booster and new research from the University of Otago demonstrates how quickly its effects can occurIn a study published in The British Journal of Nutrition researchers found the furry fruit improved vitality and mood in as little as four daysCoauthor Professor Tamlin Conner of the Department of Psychology says the findings provide a tangible and accessible way for people to support their mental wellbeingIts great for people to know that small changes in their diet like adding kiwifruit could make a difference in how they feel every dayVitamin C intake has been associated with improved mood vitality wellbeing and lower depression while vitamin C deficiency is associated with higher depression and cognitive impairmentHowever Professor Conner says limited research has assessed how quickly mood improvements occur after introducing vitamin C supplements or whole food sourcesThe researchers aimed to fill that gap with an 8week dietary intervention of 155 adults with low vitamin CParticipants took daily either a vitamin C supplement placebo or two kiwifruit They then reported their vitality mood flourishing sleep quality sleep quantity and physical activity using smartphone surveysThe researchers found kiwifruit supplementation improved vitality and mood within four days peaking around 1416 days and improved flourishing from day 14 Vitamin C on the other hand marginally improved mood until day 12Lead author Dr Ben Fletcher who conducted the research as part of his PhD at Otago says understanding the nuances of when and how these effects occur daytoday contributes to our knowledge of the potential benefits of vitamin Crich foods and supplements on mental healthThis helps us see that what we eat can have a relatively fast impact on how we feelOur participants had relatively good mental health to begin with so had little room for improvement but still reported the benefits of kiwifruit or vitamin C interventions he saysHe adds that while vitamin C tablets showed some improvements the study underscores the potential synergistic effects of consuming whole foods like kiwifruitWe encourage a holistic approach to nutrition and wellbeing incorporating various nutrientrich foods into your dietIn addition to the direct implications for individuals seeking to improve their mental wellbeing Professor Conner says the study introduces a novel methodology in nutritional researchThe use of intensive smartphone surveys offers a realtime understanding of the daytoday changes in moodrelated outcomesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever