New research suggest a vegetable-rich diet makes us happier

Eight weeks into our 12-Week Challenge, our Challengers have boosted their intake of fresh veggies and are reaping the benefits—inside and out, with new research suggesting up to eight serves of vegetables can make us happier.

Take inspiration from Adele, who has lost a lot of weight by incorporating more vegetables into her diet. In fact her trainer Pete Geracimo told Britain's Heat magazine "She's eating a really clean diet, with lots of fruit and vegetables, plus lean protein and complex carbohydrates."

However, it's not just for celebs to consider, the Universities of Warwick and Queensland also followed more than 12,000 people, who kept food diaries and had their psychological wellbeing tracked.  “After two years, the authors found ‘happiness benefits’ for each extra daily portion of fruit and vegetables up to eight serves per day. These positive benefits seem to happen much quicker than the well-known physical health benefits of vegetables, such as protecting against cancer and cardiovascular disease,” reports the Dietitians Association of Australia.

Feel-good veggies in season now include asparagus, beetroot and artichoke. Pile up your plate!