Fruit and vegetable consumption and psychological distress: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses based on a large Australian sample.

Larger intake of fruits and vegetables may guard against the occurrence of psychological distress in middle-aged and older individuals.

​This study examined the relationship between consuming generous portions of fruits and vegetables and keeping psychological distress away from middle-aged and older adults.. Researchers evaluated the dietary and mental health records of 60,404 Australian men and women aged 45 years and above. 

The team of investigators observed that high consumers of fruits and vegetables were less likely to experience psychological distress compared to their counterparts who refrained from eating these plant foods. This study found a consistent association between habitual ingestion of fruits and vegetables and lower risk of psychological distress in middle-aged and older individuals.