A new study has found that children who consumed a diet full of vegetables and fruits had better mental well-being. The study, which was conducted by researchers from the University of East Anglia, is the first to look into the link between mental well-being, vegetable and fruit intake, breakfast and lunch choices in school children in the United Kingdom.
The research was led by Social Care Partners and UEA Health, in partnership with Norfolk County Council.
For the study, the team of researchers analyzed data obtained from more than 8,000 children in 50 schools across the county. Of this number, about 1,250 were primary school children while the remaining were secondary school children. The data used was acquired from the Young People’s Health and Well-being Survey, which was commissioned by the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board and the Norfolk County Council’s Department of Public Health.
In addition to self-reporting their dietary choices, children who participated in the study also participated in a number of mental well-being tests that covered relaxation, cheerfulness and good interpersonal relationships.
The researchers found that eating more vegetables and fruit was linked to better well-being, particularly among secondary school pupils, as there was a strong association between having better mental well-being and a nutritious diet packed with vegetables and fruits. They also discovered that children who ate five or more portions of vegetables and fruits daily had the highest mental well-being scores.
These results were in addition to finding out that the types of lunch and breakfast eaten by both secondary and primary school children was significantly linked to their well-being, noting that those who ate a traditional breakfast had a greater well-being in comparison to children who only had a drink or a snack. The researchers also found that secondary school children who consumed energy drinks as breakfast had low scores for mental well-being, which were lower than children who didn’t have breakfast.
Prof. Ailsa Welch, the study’s lead researcher, explained that poor mental well-being was a major issue for young individuals and would likely have long-term negative consequences. Welch noted that modern school culture and the pressures of social media were considered to be possible reasons for the increasing prevalence of low mental well-being in children and young individuals.
In the report, the research team emphasized the importance of developing school policies and public health strategies which would ensure that quality and good nutrition was available to every child during and before school in order to empower children to reach their full potential and optimize their well-being.
With fewer children having diets rich in the needed fruits and vegetables, the mental health crisis is likely to worsen over the coming years, and therapeutic products made by companies such as Cybin Inc. (NYSE American: CYBN) (NEO: CYBN) may see heightened demand.
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