Association Between Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Symptoms of Mental Health Conditions in Mexican Americans

Imbibing the habit of consuming 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day may help guard against the occurrence of mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, dementia, and cognitive impairment

This study investigated the association between the ingestion of fruits and vegetables and the prevalence of mental disorders among Mexican-Americans. A total of 3,943 Hispanic men and women participated in this study and were assessed for their dietary choices and the occurrence of symptoms of several mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, dementia, and cognitive impairment. 

Researchers noticed that daily consumers of 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables had better chances of evading a diagnosis of anxiety, depression, dementia, and cognitive impairment than participants who ate little or none of these foods. This study recommends that "improving consumption of fruit and vegetables may be a convenient target for mental disorder-symptoms prevention and control among Mexican Americans, independent of other factors."