According To Research, Children Who Often Eat Vegetables And Fruit Have The Potential To Have Better Mental Health

Illustration (Yan Krukov/Pexels)

JAKARTA - Eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables has been proven to be good for the mind, especially for children at a growing age. Research published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, citing Healthline, Wednesday, October 13, shows that higher fruit and vegetable intake is strongly associated with better mental health in middle school children. In addition, this study also proves that a nutritious breakfast and lunch has a close relationship with emotional well-being.

To explore whether food choices can be linked to mental health, the researchers surveyed more than 50 UK schools. In total, nearly 11,000 students completed the survey, with 8,823 valid surveys. The results showed that the average mental health score was 46.6 out of 70 for middle school children and 46 out of 60 for elementary school children.

Of these, only 25 percent of secondary school children and 28.5 percent of primary school children reported eating the five servings of fruit and vegetables recommended by the WHO per day. Ten percent and nine percent, respectively, did not eat fruit and vegetables. Meanwhile, about 21 percent of middle school children and 12 percent of elementary school students consume only low-nutrient foods and drinks or skip breakfast and lunch at all. Fruits and vegetables carry a series of powerful physical benefits. The relationship between physical health and mental health is certainly not new, including the relationship between healthy eating patterns and mood in adults. Extending the concept to children seems natural, according to experts.

“Basically, adequate nutrition is needed to provide the basic ingredients for the development and function of the body, both in children and adults. These include cell growth and replication, DNA synthesis, neurotransmitters and hormone metabolism. For children in particular, optimal nutrition is essential for brain development," the researchers wrote.

Audrey Koltun, RDN, CDCES, CDN, a pediatric endocrinologist at Cohen Children's Medical Center of NY, shares the same opinion. According to him, with adequate nutrition for the body, mental health can also be maintained.

"We know that good nutrition can help brain development, but in fact, it has a greater impact on mental well-being," explains Audrey.