26. Kids who eat more fruits and vegetables have better mental well-being
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
If you want your children to have the highest levels of mental well-being, encourage them to eat more fruits and vegetables. In a new study published in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health, researchers reviewed data from more than 8,500 children at 50 schools in England. Kids who consumed the recommended five or more portions of fruits and vegetables a day had the highest mental well-being scores. But other findings were noteworthy. Children who ate a traditional breakfast experienced better well-being than those who only had a snack or drink. Those who drank energy drinks for breakfast had much lower mental well-being scores, even lower than children who ate no breakfast at all. Unfortunately, only about one-quarter of the children studied ate five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. One in ten ate no fruits or vegetables at all.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
