Double your fruit and veg intake to reduce stress

Sounds too good to be true however a study published in 2001 found that people ate 470 grams of fruit and vegs experienced 10 percent less stress compared to those who ate 230 grams of fruit and veg.

The study which examined the link between fruit and vegetable intake and stress levels of more than 8,600 Australians aged between 25 and 91 participating in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) Study

The World Health Organisation recommends eating at least 400 grams of fruit and vegetables per day.
The study strengthens the link between diets rich in fruit and vegetables and mental wellbeing.

Mental health conditions are an increasing problem in Australia and around the world. Around one in two Australians will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. Globally, approximately 1 in 10 people live with a mental health disorder.

Long-term and unmanaged stress can lead to a range of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, depression, and anxiety so a simple fix of eating more vegetables can make a difference.

The benefits of a healthy diet are well known, but only 1 in 2 Australians eat the recommended two serves of fruit per day and fewer than 1 in 10 eat the recommended five serves of vegetables each day.

Food and mood
While the mechanisms behind how fruit and vegetable consumption influences stress are still unclear, researchers believe it's the nutrients in vegetables that play in important role in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, which are recognised factors that contribute to increased stress, anxiety and lower mood.

When people eat more fruit and vegetables, they are also typically eating less highly processed foods with sugar and refined grains which can contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress.

What does 470 grams of fruit and veg look like?