More fruits and vegetables to improve astronaut performance.

Published in Scientific Report, the study concerns the impact of diet on the performance of 16 individuals (10 men and 6 women) who stayed in a space flight simulation chamber on Earth for four 45-day missions. These people followed either the standard diet or the enhanced diet which included more than 6 servings of fruits and vegetables along with an increased number of servings of fish and sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

 

People who followed the enhanced diet had lower cholesterol and cortisol levels, suggesting lower, also lower stress as well as higher cognitive speed, accuracy and attention.

 

The study concluded that an improved diet has significant health and performance benefits and can be beneficial even during short space missions.