The old adage about an apple a day keeping the doctor away might be due for an update. Maybe “an apple a day keeps the blues away?”
New research from two universities in the United Kingdom is the first to tie the consumption of fruits and vegetables — plus exercise — to happiness.
Previous studies have generalized about such a link, but researchers from universities at Kent and Reading filtered out other factors to show that eating fruits and vegetables and exercising make people happy, rather than the other way around.
The study found that people’s ability to delay gratification and employ self control — ordering a salad rather than succumbing to the temptation of a bacon cheeseburger, for example — plays a major role in lifestyle decisions that positively effect well-being.
The finding that people who eat fruits and vegetables and exercise are happier was true for many groups, including different income levels, geographic regions, gender, education levels and ages.
The researchers did note that men were more likely to exercise, while women were more likely to consume fruits and vegetables, but both choices boosted happiness.
The study’s implications for public policy are clear: Knowing how to “sell” the public on choices that lead to a healthier lifestyle is good for keeping public health costs down. And if that lifestyle not only keeps costs down but leaves people happier, then that’s a double win.
The next time you’re pondering whether to try eating better or jumping into an exercise program, consider the reward might be more than just dropping a pant size or two. It might just put a smile on your face.