Research shows that eating kiwifruit can lift you out of a low mood in just four days.
The green soft fruit has a high vitamin C content, which has long been known to improve well-being.
But now researchers believe the fruit gives us a faster and longer-lasting boost than vitamin C supplements.
The team from the University of Otago, New Zealand, conducted an eight-week dietary intervention among 155 adults with low vitamin C levels.
Participants took a vitamin C supplement, a placebo or two kiwifruit daily and then reported their vitality, mood, sleep quality and physical activity via smartphone surveys.
The green soft fruit has a high vitamin C content, which has long been known to improve well-being. But now researchers believe the fruit gives us a faster and longer-lasting boost than vitamin C supplements
The results, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, showed that kiwifruit improved vitality and mood within four days, with the effect of the boost peaking after around 14 to 16 days.
The results, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, showed that kiwifruit improved vitality and mood within four days, with the effect of the boost peaking after around 14-16 days.
In contrast, vitamin C supplements improved mood marginally until day 12.
Lead author Dr Ben Fletcher added: ‘This helps us realize that what we eat can have a relatively quick impact on how we feel.’