Assessing the effects of vegetable consumption on the psychological health of healthy adults: a systematic review of prospective research

This 2019 review analysed the potential association between vegetable consumption and mental health. Many studies have grouped fruits and vegetables together and examined their psychological effects but in this review, only research with data on vegetable intake alone was included. The total sample size taken from 10 different studies was 33,645. Out of all the healthy non-clinical adults, two thirds reported feeling better on the vegetable only group in relation to depressive symptoms. When the recommended amount of both fruits and vegetables were eaten, psychological well-being improved. However, its efficacy in reducing negative mental health symptoms was unclear. This begs the question of if more research work should be undertaken on vegetables alone and their potential role in the treatment of psychological disease. [NPID: mood, happiness, well-being, depression, psychological disease]

Year: 2019

Reference: Tuck, N. J., Farrow, C., & Thomas, J. M. (2019). Assessing the effects of vegetable consumption on the psychological health of healthy adults: a systematic review of prospective research. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 110(1), 196–211. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz080