Kiwifruit is well-known for the several benefits it has to offer; however, a recent study has found a connection between the fruit and mood. Kiwi, which is rich in vitamin C, can help boost and improve mood, according to research published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

The study revealed that if an individual intakes kiwifruit for four (4) days, then it can directly impact the mood. Accordingly, the impact was higher as compared to the ones who received vitamin C supplements.  

It is to be noted that the major highlight of the study was ‘the effects of vitamin C on mental health and how the food source can provide nutrients in the best way possible, according to Medical News Today.

What benefits an individual can achieve from kiwifruit?

Fruits, in general, are a great source of nutrients and a healthy diet, and kiwifruit is one of the best choices to enjoy all the health benefits. Kiwi is rich in fiber, potassium, vitamin E, and vitamin C, which could help boost the functioning of the immune system and help heal wounds.

Along with this, some other benefits of the fruit are improved gastrointestinal function and improved blood sugar as well as lipid levels.

Are kiwifruit and mental health interlinked? 

The study concluded that the people who were consuming the kiwifruit had improved mood and vitality at around four days; along with this, at 14 days, the improvement in flourishing was noted. The mood improvements peaked between day 14 and day 16.

The study was led by PhD and a psychological scientist and professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago, New Zealand – Tamlin Conner, who explained, “As part of this placebo-controlled nutrition trial, we used smartphone technology to survey mood across an 8-week period and found improvements in mood following introduction of a whole-food vitamin C product (Sungold kiwifruit) in as early as four days, then peaking around two weeks,” as per the Medical News Today.

Additionally, Conner stated, “Our research program suggests there is value in measuring real-time mood changes frequently in daily life across within intervention trials to understand patterns and timeframes of change. We were surprised that participants randomized to the whole-food condition (2 Sungold kiwifruits per day) showed improvements to the mood as early as four days into the intervention.”

In addition to this, the major focus of the study also remained on adding vitamin C to the diet plan to take advantage of the possible benefits.

In this regard, a registered dietitian and nutritionist – Rick Miller, who did not participate in the study, stated, “This trial highlights a crucial point of difference between food-based vitamins and those from synthetic sources,” adding, “They are not equivalent, and a ‘whole food-first’ approach should always be the first port of call to meet nutritional requirements and symptoms that could be related, such as mood.”

The Study!

According to the researcher, the study was conducted under the hypothetical situation that vitamin C can boost mood and impact the functioning of the brain. During the study, the data was analyzed from a three-armed placebo-controlled trial, and the participants were between the ages of 18 and 35 and had low plasma levels of vitamin C.

The participants were broadly divided into three groups: the first group was given a supplement of vitamin C, the second ate kiwifruit, and the third took a daily placebo tablet. The data was collected via smartphone by the researchers, and the blood work of the participants was done every two (2) weeks.

The researchers outlined that the collected data was based on components, such as:

• Energy and fatigue
• Mood
• Flourishing
• Sleep quality and quantity
• Physical activity levels