The findings of a recent study has provided first evidence of an association between eating fruits and vegetables and what’s called “greater eudaemonic well-being,” or “a state of flourishing characterized by feelings of engagement, meaning, and purpose in life.” The study’s findings have been published in the British Journal of Health Psychology.

405 participants in the study (young adults, 67% women) were asked to record a daily dairy for 13 consecutive days. The dairy included consumption habits (fruit, vegetables, sweets and chips) and their eudaemonic well-being, curiosity and creativity.

The findings of the study include:

1. Fruit and vegetables (FV) consumption predicted greater eudaemonic well-being, curiosity, and creativity at the between- and within-person levels.
2. Young adults who ate more FV reported higher average eudaemonic well-being, more intense feelings of curiosity, and greater creativity compared with young adults who ate less FV.
3. On days when young adults ate more FV, they reported greater eudaemonic well-being, curiosity, and creativity compared with days when they ate less FV.
4. FV consumption also predicted higher PA, which mostly did not account for the associations between FV and the other well-being variables.

There is growing evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (FV) is related to greater happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect.

Source: On carrots and curiosity: Eating fruit and vegetables is associated with greater flourishing in daily life; Tamlin S. Conner^*, Kate L. Brookie, Aimee C. Richardson and Maria A. Polak. 30 JUL 2014. DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12113