Mood-Boosting “Monkey Fruit” Drives Away the Blues
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted March 15, 2024
Unmotivated, gloomy, melancholy, feeling blah, or down in the dumps.
There are countless ways to describe the unwelcome combo of low energy and dark mood that strikes the best of us from time to time.
It’s not quite depression, but it still manages to drain the color and joy out of life.
However, I’ve discovered a natural (and delicious) GREEN solution to bust through the BLUES…
We associate the oddly fuzzy but delicious kiwifruit with New Zealand. After all, it’s the island nation’s number one export.
But it turns out the kiwi initially hails from the Far East.
In fact, this Chinese native, known locally as macaque or monkey fruit (because of the monkey’s love of the kiwi), grew in the wilds of Southeast China for thousands of years before it made its way to the South Pacific in 1904.
The fruit was used medicinally in China, given to children to help them grow, and to women after childbirth to aid recovery. Now, scientists say kiwifruit could help ALL of us recover from low energy and a down mood.
A study published in The British Journal of Nutrition found this nutritious fruit could have you feeling more energetic and positive in as little as four short days.
Researchers split 155 adult volunteers with low vitamin C levels into three groups.
- Group one received a daily vitamin C supplement.
- Group two was given a placebo.
- Group three was instructed to eat two kiwi fruits daily.
Using smartphone surveys, participants self-reported measures related to mood and well-being, including reporting on overall mood, vitality, sleep quality and quantity, and physical activity.
After just four days, the kiwifruit group reported measurable improvements in vitality and mood compared to the placebo AND supplement groups.
By the end of the 8-week study, the kiwifruit group reported significantly more pronounced mood and energy benefits than the vitamin C group. In other words, eating the WHOLEfruit had a bigger impact on mental health than the isolated nutrient alone.
Supplements have their place, of course. However, whole foods have a complex array of nutrients that work synergistically to boost the benefits of single vitamins, minerals, and other compounds.
For example, the fiber and sugars in kiwifruits assist with the absorption and efficient delivery of other nutrients, such as vitamin C, to our cells.
And unlike mood meds that have side effects, snacking on a couple of kiwis poses no health risk. Even better, this high-fiber, lower-sugar fruit is easy to incorporate into fruit salads, smoothies, yogurt, cottage cheese, and more.
So, the next time you need an emotional pick-me-up or feel worn out from life’s daily grind, reach for a few fuzzy kiwis.
Can committing to healthy lifestyle changes translate into living LONGER? The short answer is yes. The longer one may surprise you…
P.S. Check out these 5 easy mood-boosters to get you into the “Swing of Spring.”
SOURCE:
Fletcher, B. D., et al. (2024) Smartphone survey data reveal the timecourse of changes in mood outcomes following vitamin C or kiwifruit intervention in adults with low vitamin C. British Journal of Nutrition. doi.org/10.1017/S0007114523002787.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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