Lettuce be happy: A longitudinal UK study on the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and well-being

Abstract

Rationale While the role of diet in influencing physical health is now well-established, some recent research suggests that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables could play a role in enhancing mental well-being. A limitation with much of this existing research is its reliance on cross-sectional correlations, convenience samples, and/or lack of adequate controls. Objective We aim to add to the emerging literature on the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and well-being by using longitudinal data from a study in the United Kingdom (UK). Method We employ panel data analytical techniques on three waves collected between 2010 and 2017 (i.e., following the same individuals over time) in the UK Household Longitudinal Survey. We also control for time-variant confounders such as diet, health, and lifestyle behaviours. Results Fixed effects regressions show that mental well-being (GHQ-12) responds in a dose-response fashion to increases in both the quantity and the frequency of fruit and vegetables consumed. This relationship is robust to the use of subjective well-being (life satisfaction) instead of mental well-being. We also document a hump-shaped relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and age. Conclusion Our findings provide further evidence that persuading people to consume more fruits and vegetables may not only benefit their physical health in the long-run, but also their mental well-being in the short-run.

Does eating fruit and vegetables also reduce the longitudinal risk of depression and anxiety? A commentary on 'Lettuce be happy'

“…The results in Table 1 could be interpreted from a kind of prospective point of view, as is common in the medical and public-health literatures. The broad conclusions are consistent with the Ocean et al (2019) and Mujcic-Oswald (2016) findings (on GHQ, happiness, and life satisfaction).…”

“…As Ocean et al (2019) also explain, the positively-sloped relationship they establish in UK data is potentially consistent with that found recently in the Australian fixed-effects analysis of Mujcic and Oswald (2016). That seems scientifically encouraging for this field of research.…”

“…Consistent with the spirit of Ocean et al (2019), this Commentary presents evidence that eating fruit and vegetables may help to protect against future risk of clinical depression and anxiety. Our findings should, however, be treated cautiously.…”

“…In this Commentary, we try to provide a small amount of extra evidence that may help to complement the Ocean et al results. Using Australian rather than UK data, we ask whether the tenor of the results in Ocean et al (2019) and Mujcic and Oswald (2016) The measure used in this Commentary's analysis is a binary indicator for whether or not the survey respondent has been diagnosed with long-term depression or anxiety by a health-care professional:…”

The Production Efficiency and Specific Energy Consumption During Processing of Corn Extrudates with Fresh Vegetables Addition

“…Consumption of fresh or minimally treated vegetables may avoid civilization diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease or others. However, widespread dissemination of this knowledge does not increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables (Rekhy et al, 2017;Ocean et al, 2019). The most typical long-term preservation for vegetables is freezing, but it being an extremely power-consuming process (Korotkiy et al, 2016).…”