A study conducted by researchers from Newcastle University in Britain showed that drinking fruit juice or smoothies daily can improve mental health and reduce symptoms of depression.
The study included 42 adults whose dietary habits were characterized by low consumption of fruits and vegetables. The researchers helped the participants increase the portions of these foods in their daily meals until they reached the recommended amount, which is equivalent to (5 portions per day). A group of them were also asked to drink a glass of natural fruit juice or a smoothie every day.
After four weeks of monitoring, the researchers noted that the people who were asked to consume juice and smoothies daily had improved mental health and showed a significant decrease in depression indicators compared to the other group, with a difference of 2.52 points on the depression symptom assessment scale.
The researchers also did not observe any negative effect of the drinks on metabolism or blood sugar levels in the participants in the experiment.
The researchers believe that making simple dietary changes can be an easy and affordable way to improve mental health, emphasizing that drinking juices and smoothies can make it easier to get the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables, especially for people who find it difficult to stick to a healthy diet.
