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Wellington: Are you feeling down and depressed? Eating fuzzy fruits like kiwi can improve your vitality and mood in just four days, a study claims. The findings provide a tangible and accessible way for people to support their mental wellbeing, said co-author Professor Tamlin Conner, from the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago in New Zealand.
“It’s great to let people know that small changes to their diet, like adding kiwi, could make a difference to how they feel each day.”
Vitamin C intake has been associated with improved mood, vitality, well-being, and reduced depression, while vitamin C deficiency is associated with increased depression and cognitive decline.
However, Conner said limited research has evaluated how quickly improvements in mood occur after introducing vitamin C supplements or whole food sources.
The researchers attempted to fill that gap with an 8-week dietary intervention in 155 adults with low vitamin C levels.
Participants took a vitamin C supplement, a placebo, or two kiwis daily. They then reported on their vitality, mood, prosperity, quality and quantity of sleep, and physical activity using smartphone surveys.
The results, published in The British Journal of Nutrition, found that kiwi supplementation improved vitality and mood within four days, peaking between 14 and 16 days, and improved flowering from day 14 onwards. Vitamin C, on the other hand, marginally improved mood until day 12.
“Understanding the nuances of when and how these effects occur on a day-to-day basis contributes to our understanding of the potential benefits of vitamin C-rich foods and supplements for mental health,” said lead author Dr. Ben Fletcher of the university team.
“This helps us see that what we eat can have a relatively quick impact on how we feel.
“Our participants had relatively good mental health to begin with, so they had little room for improvement, but they still reported benefits from kiwi or vitamin C interventions,” he said.
He added that while vitamin C tablets showed some improvements, the study underlines the possible synergistic effects of eating whole foods like kiwi.
“We encourage a holistic approach to nutrition and wellness, incorporating various nutrient-dense foods into your diet.” (IANOS)