Eating Fruit can Prevent Depression

Education Series by Randy Hebert, MD, Medical Director

Approximately 20% of US adults experience symptoms of depression in a year; five to 10 percent experience symptoms severe enough that they may need to seek medical attention.

There are several effective treatments for depression. Interestingly, something as simple as eating fruit can help. A recent study demonstrated that middle-aged adults who eat three or more servings of fruit per day have a 20% lower rate of depression after age 65.

Eating fruit is not only delicious; it may be a simple yet effective way to decrease depression symptoms.

Li, Huiqi, et al. “Association between consumption of fruits and vegetables in midlife and depressive symptoms in late life: the Singapore Chinese Health Study.” The Journal of nutrition, health and aging 28.6 (2024): 100275.