Relationship between Diet and Mental Health in a Young Adult Appalachian College Population

Young adults in Appalachia may face poor nutritional status due to low access to healthy food and high mental health symptoms attributed to high stress and the college environment. A cross-sectional design was used to investigate the relationship between diet intake and mental health status of this population via surveys. Participant responses (n = 1956) showed students’ mean number of depressed days over the past 30 days was 9.67 ± 8.80, and of anxious days, 14.1 ± 10.03. The mean fruit and vegetable intake was 1.80 ± 1.27 times per day and the mean added sugars intake was 1.79 ± 1.26 times per day. 36.7% of students were found to be food insecure. One-way ANOVA and Chi-Squared analyses were used to determine relationship between variables. Significant variables were placed into a full logistic regression model. Food insecurity and fruit and vegetable intake remained significant predictors of depression in males (odds ratio (OR) = 2.33 95% CI 1.47–3.71 and OR = 68 95% CI 50–89, respectively) and in females food insecurity remained a significant predictor of depression (OR = 2.26 95% CI 1.67–3.07). Food insecurity and added sugars intake were significant predictor of anxiety in males (OR = 2.33 95% CI 1.47–3.71 and OR = 1.09 95% CI 0.91–1.3, respectively) and for anxiety in females, added sugars intake and food insecurity were significant predictors (OR = 1.18 95% CI 1.05–1.32 and OR = 1.65 95% CI 1.27–2.16, respectively). Improving college student’s diet intake through increased access to healthy foods could improve the mental health and well-being of students.

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The impact of diet and lifestyle on wellbeing during COVID-19-lockdown

10.31234/osf.io/erta5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anne Muth ◽

Annabel B Losecaat Vermeer ◽

Damiano Terenzi ◽

Soyoung Q Park

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Lifestyle Factors ◽

Activity Level ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

The Impact ◽

Diet And Lifestyle

A healthy diet and lifestyle may protect against adverse mental health outcomes, which is especially crucial during stressful times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This preregistered longitudinal online study explored whether diet and lifestyle (physical activity, sleep, and social interactions) could predict wellbeing and mood during a light lockdown in Germany. Participants (N = 117, 72 males; 28 9 years old) answered mental health and lifestyle questionnaires (social connections, sleep, activity) followed by submitting one week of food and mood-lifestyle diary (food intake, positive and negative mood, mental wellbeing, sleep quality, physical activity level, quantity and quality of social interactions) via a smartphone app. We used multivariate linear and mixed-effects models to predict mood and wellbeing by using dietary components and lifestyle factors. Inter-individual analyses revealed that sleep and social interaction significantly impacted mood and wellbeing. Interestingly, fruit and vegetable intake predicted wellbeing, even when controlling for all lifestyle factors. Fruit and vegetable intake also significantly predicted daily fluctuations in wellbeing within individuals next to sleep, physical activity, and social interactions. We observed gender differences in fruit and vegetable intake and anxiety levels. Our results emphasize the importance of diet contributing to individual wellbeing, even in the challenging times of a pandemic.

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Assessing the effects of vegetable consumption on the psychological health of healthy adults: a systematic review of prospective research

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/nqz080 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 110 (1) ◽

pp. 196-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Nicola-Jayne Tuck ◽

Claire Farrow ◽

Jason M Thomas

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Causal Relation ◽

Well Being ◽

Total Sample ◽

Fruit Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Psychological Well Being

ABSTRACT Background To alleviate the immense health and economic burden of mental illness, modifiable targets to promote psychological health are required. Emerging evidence suggests that both fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption may play an important role. However, the precise contribution of vegetable consumption, which may represent a more potent target than the consumption of fruit, has received little attention. Objectives This review aimed to synthesize and evaluate research investigating the effects of vegetable consumption on mental health and psychological well-being in nonclinical, healthy adult populations. We aimed to provide insight into the causal relation between vegetable consumption and these outcomes. Methods Only studies with prospective or experimental data were included. The survey of the literature was last implemented on 1 February, 2019. Results Ten eligible studies were identified, with a total sample size of n = 33,645, that measured vegetable intake separately from fruit, or combined this with fruit intake. Where studies explored the independent effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on psychological health (n = 3), 2 reported a preferential effect of vegetables (compared with fruit) on psychological well-being, whereas 1 reported a superior effect of fruit intake on odds reduction of symptoms of depression. More broadly, there was evidence that consuming the recommended amount of F&V (and exceeding this) was associated with increased psychological well-being. However, the effects of F&V consumption on mental health symptoms were inconsistent. Conclusions Increased F&V consumption has a positive effect on psychological well-being and there appears to be a preferential effect of vegetables (compared with fruit) from the limited data examined. The effect of F&V intake on mental health is less clear and, at present, there are no clear data to support a preferential effect of vegetable intake on mental health outcomes. Hence, additional research is warranted to investigate the influence of vegetables, compared with fruit, on psychological health in order to inform nutrition-based interventions. This review was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero as CRD42017072880.

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Association between food insecurity and low fruit and vegetable intake in the UK in 2016: a cross-sectional study

The Lancet ◽

10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32833-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 394 ◽

pp. S36

Author(s):

Narges Ebadi ◽

Davod Ahmadi

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Uk

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Measurement of Fruit and Vegetable Intake Using Skin Carotenoid Measures Among Individuals Receiving Aid from Food Pantries (P04-087-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz051.p04-087-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Heather Valentine ◽

Rebecca Mount ◽

Kathryn Wolff ◽

Lisa Ousley ◽

Emily Worm ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Kansas City ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Dietary Guidelines ◽

Food Assistance ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Food Pantries

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to understand food security and fruit/vegetable consumption among individuals receiving aid from food pantries and other food assistance agencies. Methods Across the US, 12.9% of people are affected by food insecurity1 and 5.5% of households report obtaining food from a food pantry2. Similarly, food insecurity affects 12.9% of the population in Kansas and 14.7% in Missouri1. After the Harvest is a nonprofit organization that helps address food insecurity by rescuing fruits and vegetables from going to waste and donating them to agencies that serve hungry people in the Kansas City metropolitan area. As part of a larger evaluation of the After the Harvest program, intercept surveys with individuals receiving aid from food pantries and other food assistance agencies were conducted at selected locations in the Kansas City area. In each survey, a demographic questionnaire and a Dietary Screener Questionnaire were administered. Food insecurity was screened using two items derived from the USDA's Food Security Survey Module. Additionally, skin carotenoids were measured using the Veggie Meter™ as a biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake. Results A total of 57 food agency clients participated in the study. About 67% of the clients indicated that within the past 12 months, they had worried about their food running out before having money to buy more. Additionally, 74% reported that the food they bought didn't last and they didn't have money to buy more. On average, the food agency clients reported eating 1 cup of fruit per day and 1.4 cups of vegetables per day, which fell far below recommendations set by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Similarly, they had a Veggie Meter™ score of 175 ± 77, indicating a very low level of fruit and vegetable intake. Conclusions Food agency clients were food insecure and had very low fruit and vegetable intakes. Efforts to increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetable donations at food assistance agencies may represent an opportunity to improve the diets among clientele. Funding Sources The Hall Family Foundation.

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Food security and related health risk among adults in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

South African Journal of Science ◽

10.17159/sajs.2021/8848 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 117 (11/12) ◽

Author(s):

Hlekani V. Mbhatsani ◽

Ngoako S. Mabapa ◽

Tambe B. Ayuk ◽

Tshifhiwa C. Mandiwana ◽

Lindelani F. Mushaphi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Food Security ◽

Health Risk ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Fruit And Vegetable

Food insecurity, obesity and hypertension remain major public health issues related to nutrition in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine household food security and the health risk of the adult population in the Limpopo Province using cross-sectional designs. A stratified random sampling method was used to recruit adults aged 18 to 65 years in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Data were collected using a validated, structured questionnaire. All data were analysed using SPSS version 25.0. The study included 640 participants with an average age of 36.2±17.6 years and a household size of five persons; 74.5% of participants fell in the low monthly income bracket (≤ZAR3000). The mean dietary diversity score was 3.99 (CI: 2.79–5.19). The prevalence of food insecurity was 31.3%, obesity 35.2% and hypertension 32.3%. Being a woman, older and married significantly positively influenced obesity and hypertension. Also, a healthy eating lifestyle such as high dietary diversity was found to positively influence obesity status, while daily eating of fruit and vegetables positively significantly influenced the hypertension status of participants (p<0.05). Food insecurity, obesity and hypertension rates remain high among adults in the Limpopo Province of South Africa with consumption of a diet low in dietary variety. Aged and married women were more likely to be obese and hypertensive, while daily fruit and vegetable intake were found to be a protective factor. Educational and nutritional intervention should be designed and geared towards promoting fruit and vegetable intake in the community.

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Reducing food insecurity and improving fruit and vegetable intake through a nutrition incentive program in Michigan, USA

SSM - Population Health ◽

10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100898 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100898

Author(s):

C.A. Parks ◽

P. Han ◽

H.E. Fricke ◽

H.A. Parker ◽

O.B. Hesterman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Incentive Program

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Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mental Health in Adults: A Systematic Review

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12010115 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 115 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Dominika Głąbska ◽

Dominika Guzek ◽

Barbara Groele ◽

Krystyna Gutkowska

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Observational Studies ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable

The role of a properly balanced diet in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders has been suggested, while vegetables and fruits have a high content of nutrients that may be of importance in the case of depressive disorders. The aim of the study was to conduct a systematic review of the observational studies analyzing association between fruit and vegetable intake and mental health in adults. The search adhered to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and the review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42019138148). A search for peer-reviewed observational studies published until June 2019 was performed in PubMed and Web of Science databases, followed by an additional manual search for publications conducted via analyzing the references of the found studies. With respect to the intake of fruit and/or vegetable, studies that assessed the intake of fruits and/or vegetables, or their processed products (e.g., juices), as a measure expressed in grams or as the number of portions were included. Those studies that assessed the general dietary patterns were not included in the present analysis. With respect to mental health, studies that assessed all the aspects of mental health in both healthy participants and subjects with physical health problems were included, but those conducted in groups of patients with intellectual disabilities, dementia, and eating disorders were excluded. To assess bias, the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was applied. A total of 5911 studies were independently extracted by 2 researchers and verified if they met the inclusion criteria using a 2-stage procedure (based on the title, based on the abstract). After reviewing the full text, a total of 61 studies were selected. A narrative synthesis of the findings from the included studies was performed, which was structured around the type of outcome. The studies included mainly focused on depression and depressive symptoms, but also other characteristics ranging from general and mental well-being, quality of life, sleep quality, life satisfaction, flourishing, mood, self-efficacy, curiosity, creativity, optimism, self-esteem, stress, nervousness, or happiness, to anxiety, minor psychiatric disorders, distress, or attempted suicide, were analyzed. The most prominent results indicated that high total intake of fruits and vegetables, and some of their specific subgroups including berries, citrus, and green leafy vegetables, may promote higher levels of optimism and self-efficacy, as well as reduce the level of psychological distress, ambiguity, and cancer fatalism, and protect against depressive symptoms. However, it must be indicated that the studies included were conducted using various methodologies and in different populations, so their results were not always sufficiently comparable, which is a limitation. Taken together, it can be concluded that fruits and/or vegetables, and some of their specific subgroups, as well as processed fruits and vegetables, seems to have a positive influence on mental health, as stated in the vast majority of the included studies. Therefore, the general recommendation to consume at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day may be beneficial also for mental health.

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