Final Paper. The Effects of Fruit and Vegetables on Mental Health

The Effects of Fruit and Vegetables on Mental Health
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The Effects of Fruit and Vegetables on Mental Health
Summary of the general media piece
Introduction
Most people are well aware of the physical health benefits of increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables, but little has been realized about its connection to mental health too. Building on research on the topic, findings from the UK Household Longitudinal Study on more than 40,000 participants showed that fruit and vegetable consumption was directly proportional to mental well-being and life satisfaction even after considering other factors that influence mental health.
Methods
The study using standardized measures for fruit and vegetable portions (1 cup of raw vegetables, ½ cup cooked vegetables or chopped fruit, whole fruit), found that one portion could equate week's walk in terms of the effect on mental health. The study only tested the impact of bread and dairy, which presented a limitation. Another survey of the same showed the impact on positive mental elements like motivation, although no effect on the regressive effects like depressive symptoms. The latter, however, used a randomized study and shorter period-two weeks.
Results and Interpretation
Universal causality is an essential question in the study as fruit and vegetable intake can predict the likelihood of depression, but the reverse does not hold. The study still needs extensive research to establish if the link between fruit and vegetable consumption and mental wellbeing is causal. Biological mechanisms that connect fruit and vegetable chemical properties to physical are a cheaper approach to the study than randomized controlled trials.
Summary of the original work
Introduction
Numerous have been conducted to find the link between fruit and vegetable intake and mental well-being will substantial results showing the linkage between the two. Although the studies have been able to navigate social, economic, and demographic variables, the cross-sectional nature of the data is the main challenge in the research. To establish causality, different researchers tested different variables under controlled situations like the difference between fresh, cooked, and canned fruits and vegetables. Despite the different approaches and variable manipulation in the studies, there was an essential link between the consumption of fruits and vegetables to the mental well-being of the participants.
Hypothesis
Establishing the causality link between fruit and vegetable intake and mental well-being was the main objective of the study. One of the most significant studies on the effect of fruit and vegetables on mental well-being was by White et al. (2013) where the researchers aimed at finding the resulting short term effects based on whether the impact was either positive or negative instead of focusing on the general health and satisfaction. The relationship between the positive or negative impacts and fruit intake was also a focus in the study but did not show any reversal connection between the two. Other studies found the relationship between lifestyle choices like diet brought the individual variation even if the amount of fruit intake remained the same. To test the hypothesis on cross-sectional data and in controlled situations, different researchers studied the causality effect. They showed that it had substantial psychological effects, although samples and the time did not provide the basis for a conclusive result.
General Methods
To prove the hypothesis that fruit and vegetable consumption has a positive effect on the mental wellbeing; the study used a larger sample from the UK Household Longitudinal Survey (UKHLS). The research was aimed at finding the relationship between the daily variations in the amount of fruit and vegetable samples. The sample size was 50,000 participants, and the data was collected from 2009 to 2017. Data were collected in three waves, where participants responded either through an online survey or face to face interviews. During data collection, different variables were identified; including mental well-being measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Other variables that were considered include age, relationship status, income, and level of education. The relationship between the number of fruits and vegetables consumed and mental wellness was determined.
General Results
Results in this research were structured in three sections, i.e., detailed results, the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and mental well-being, and analysis of the sensitivity of the results obtained. It was noted that people consumed lower fruit and vegetable portions compared to the recommended levels. People with higher economic income had more top fruit and vegetable consumption rates compared to those with lower financial income. The elderly consumed fewer fruits and vegetables compared to the younger generations. In terms of gender, females had a higher consumption rate compared to men. Lastly, it was determined that increased fruit and vegetable consumption ...