Fruit juice consumption linked to improved mental health

A new British study published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that consuming a daily glass of 100% natural fruit juice or a smoothie may offer benefits for mental well-being beyond simply increasing fruit and vegetable intake.

The research involved 42 adults who initially consumed two or fewer servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Participants were divided into three groups: a control group maintaining their usual diet, a group increasing only whole fruit and vegetable intake, and a group that increased whole produce intake while also adding one daily serving of fruit juice or a smoothie.

After four weeks, while both groups that increased produce intake improved their dietary habits, only the group consuming daily juice or smoothies showed lower scores for depressive symptoms. The difference was an average of 2.52 points on a 27-point scale. Researchers noted that while the improvement is considered moderate, it was statistically significant. No significant changes in anxiety levels were observed, and participants who consumed juice did not replace whole fruits or vegetables with the beverage, resulting in an overall increase in fiber intake.