A new study suggests that eating a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and olive oil could help older adults maintain stronger mental well-being.

Researchers in England tracked more than 3,000 adults between the ages of 50 and 90 to explore how their food choices influenced their long-term outlook on life. Participants who closely followed a Mediterranean-style diet reported a higher sense of psychological well-being compared to their peers who did not.

The study, published in BMJ Open, measured participants’ feelings of autonomy, life satisfaction, purpose, and control over daily routines using specialized surveys. Each person received a score based on how closely their diet matched traditional Mediterranean eating patterns.

The researchers found that participants who adhered closely to the diet reported stronger overall psychological wellness. This held true even when factors such as income, education, exercise, smoking, and physical health were taken into account.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

They also determined that these improvements were not related to calorie intake, suggesting that the types of food eaten played an essential role. The benefits, researchers said, seemed to come specifically from the nutrient composition of the Mediterranean diet.

When the data were tracked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, overall emotional well-being dropped across the study group. However, the decline was less severe among those who maintained the Mediterranean diet during lockdowns.

According to the researchers, the diet’s anti-inflammatory properties could be a contributing factor. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in polyphenols, and fish provides omega-3 fatty acids, both of which may support brain and gut health.

Kim Kulp, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of the Gut Health Connection in the San Francisco Bay Area, told Fox News Digital that the findings align with previous research. “This study shows what we’ve been seeing in other research,” she said.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Kulp explained that the diet’s emphasis on fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains provides an abundance of nutrients and prebiotics that help nourish beneficial gut microbes. “Since the Mediterranean diet is loaded with a variety of plant foods, it provides an increase in nutrients for the body and brain, special compounds that reduce inflammation, and prebiotics to feed the good gut microbes,” she said.

At the same time, researchers acknowledged certain limitations. Data were based on self-reported dietary surveys, which can sometimes be unreliable. The study participants also tended to be healthier and wealthier than the general population, limiting the findings’ broader applicability.

“There were only two days of dietary data, and the psychological well-being test was only administered on two occasions, both early on during COVID,” Kulp noted. “Two days of data may not be enough to form conclusions.”

Because the research was observational, it did not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between diet and mental health improvements. Still, Kulp emphasized that eating nutrient-rich foods can support healthy aging.

“Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes provides the ultimate combination of nutrients to improve overall health as we age,” she said. “Together, this diet can help reduce stress and depression and improve a sense of well-being, even during the toughest times.”