We are generally not very keen on these “observational” studies on nutrition advice, but Harvard is Harvard and Brain Health is of utmost importance and finally, since we see very little downside to eating an orange per day, we wanted to share the following.
A daily orange might be doing more than just providing a juicy dose of vitamin C — it could also help protect your mental health. Harvard researchers have discovered that eating just one medium orange per day is linked to a 20% lower risk of developing depression, thanks to the effects on beneficial gut bacteria.
The connection depends on a specific gut microbe called Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which thrives when we eat citrus fruits. This bacterium appears to influence the production of crucial brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine — neurotransmitters that regulate our mood. Researchers found lower levels of this bacterium in people with depression.
“When we look at people’s total fruit or vegetable consumption, or at other individual fruits such as apples or bananas, we don’t see any relationship between intake and risk of depression,” explained Dr. Raaj Mehta, lead researcher from Harvard Medical School.
“The effect seems to be specific to citrus.”
The findings come from an extensive study of over 32,000 middle-aged women, tracked from 2003 to 2017. The results were later validated in a separate study of men.
It’s worth noting that this is an observational study, meaning it shows a correlation but doesn’t prove that eating oranges directly prevents depression. However, it adds to growing evidence that our gut health significantly influences our mental well-being.
.png)
.png)
.png)
