Eating Fruit May Reduce Depression Risk, Study Finds

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging offers an intriguing insight into the link between fruit consumption and a significant reduction in anxiety and depression. The study, conducted by a research team in China, followed 14,000 participants between the ages of 40 and 65 over a period of about 20 years.

According to the findings, individuals who consumed higher amounts of fruit had a lower risk of developing depression later in life. Specifically, eating three servings of fruit a day was associated with a 12% lower risk of depression compared to those who ate only one serving a day. Interestingly, while the researchers also examined vegetable intake, they did not find a similar connection to depression symptoms.

“The findings support the recommendation to consume enough fruit early in life in order to reduce the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms later on,” the researchers stated. It was found that 20% of participants aged 65 and older showed signs of depression.

“There are still many unanswered questions in this research,” said psychologist Hilary Ammon in an interview with Yahoo Life. “For instance, were there other lifestyle or health factors that could have contributed to the reduced depression risk later in life? Just because this group ate more fruit doesn’t necessarily mean the fruit itself prevented depression.”

Also featured in the article was dietitian Jessica Cording, who explained: “Since fruit is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, research suggests that antioxidants play a role in helping the body resist stress.”

Currently, the recommended intake is approximately four fruits per day. According to the researchers, certain fruits were found to be more directly associated with lower depression risk. These include oranges, tangerines, bananas, watermelon, melon, apples, and papaya.