Everyone knows that the regular consumption of organic fruits and vegetables leads to superior health, but a new study conducted by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health has discovered yet another reason to favor a diet of natural foods – individuals who consume antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables on a regular basis are also more optimistic about the future.
The study assessed the blood concentrations of nine antioxidants – including carotenoids, which are a class of antioxidants mostly found in orange-colored produce – in 1,000 male and female participants between the ages of 25 and 74. During the assessment, the participants completed a questionnaire about their attitudes on life.
The scientists found that the most optimistic participants each had up to a 13 percent increase in blood concentrations of carotenoids compared to those who were less optimistic. Moreover, the scientists also found that the participants who consumed fewer than three servings of fruits and vegetables per day were considerably less optimistic than those who consumed more than three servings per day.
“Individuals with greater optimism tended to have greater levels of carotenoids such as beta-carotene. “This is the first study of its kind to report a relationship between optimism and healthier levels of carotenoid concentrations.”
Source: naturalnews.com
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