Most of us can remember being told as kids to eat our vegetables, but few us of knew why. Most likely all that our parents knew at the time was that veggies were good for us. Research from a study from the University of Warwick's Medical School in Coventry, England, gives another reason to eat fruits and vegetables. The study, which involved 14,000 participants, highlighted those who ate a high number of fruits and vegetables. Five servings or more had a higher level of mental well-being. Among other things, a high sense of mental well being affects how life is viewed in general. It not only relates to the absence or presence of mental illness, but also has far reaching effects. Is the cup half empty or half full? How do you get 5 servings of fruits and vegetables? It's easier than you might thing.
- Add a serving of fruit to your breakfast no matter what you have.
- A handful of spinach and a slice or two of tomato on a sandwich and you are up 2 servings.
- Keeping veggies ready for snacking when the afternoon hunger strike hits allows one more serving.
- Have a couple of veggie sides or a veggie and a side salad with dinner and you have your daily quota.
However, I don't stop there. I quite often add a few berries to my Greek Yogurt for a bedtime snack. While we all know that fruits and vegetables are good for us, I find that few people really get the 5. Remember this. When you are in a hurry and need "fast food", there is nothing faster than a banana and you don't have to go through a drive-through!
Resource: ACE Pro Source, Five A Day To Keep The Blues Away
