Sleep Well, Eat Veggies for Mental Health

Good quality sleep, exercise, and eating more raw fruits and vegetables contribute to better mental health and well-being in adults according to a study done by the University of Otago. The findings are based on a study of 1100 young adults from New Zealand and the United States. Sleep quality rather than sleep quantity was a strong predictor of mental health and well-being, the study observed. Depressive symptoms were lowest for young adults who slept 9.7 hours per night while the feeling of well-being was much better for 8-hour sleep. Well-being was highest for young adults who ate 4.8 servings of raw fruit and vegetables per day; those who ate less than two servings, and also more than eight servings, reported lower feelings of well-being. Along with quality sleep, exercising, and eating more raw fruits and vegetables -- in that order -- were three modifiable behaviours which correlated with better mental health and well-being in young adults.