Does diet determine lifespan? Study: Eating more of 3 foods increases life expectancy by 10 years. The younger you start eating, the better
Changing your eating habits can extend your life by 10 years? Study says “3 foods” are key
Diet is the basis for maintaining health. Global dietary risks are estimated to cause 110,000 deaths and 255 million disability-adjusted life years each year (editor’s note: developed by WHO, which refers to the potential life span lost due to premature death, including years of health lost due to disability). Can changing eating habits help extend life? A recent comprehensive study published in “PLOS Medicine” shows that dietary adjustments among young people may help extend life expectancy by about 10 years, and the effect is also significant for those over 60 years old.
A research team from the University of Bergen in Norway conducted a comprehensive analysis of existing literature and developed a statistical model based on the Global Burden of Disease Study, hoping to clarify the impact of dietary patterns on life expectancy. The model is now available as a publicly available online tool called “Food4HealthyLife”.
The model estimates that starting from the age of 20, the process of individuals changing from a typical Westernized diet to an “Optimal Diet” (Optimal Diet) can help increase life expectancy to more than 10 years for both men and women. As for those over 60 years old, if they optimize their eating habits, women can increase their life expectancy by about 8 years, and men can increase their life expectancy by 8.8 years; those over 80 years old can increase their life expectancy by about 3 years.
Research claims that the key to extending life expectancy is to consume more “legumes, whole grains, and nuts” and less red meat and processed products. This diet is closer to the “Mediterranean diet” and DASH Diet. Study author Lars Fadnes said that it is generally believed that food types or dietary patterns are beneficial to health, but relevant research on the quantitative impact of dietary habits on health status is still very limited. The model attempts to make amends and also provides preliminary conclusions.
Eating healthy is not enough! Harvard calls for “5 habits” to live longer
In addition to dietary habits having a profound impact on lifespan, research from Harvard Medical School also pointed out that practicing five healthy living habits can also effectively extend life expectancy by about 10 years. They are quitting smoking or never smoking, a normal BMI, at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day, adjusting alcohol abuse habits to moderate drinking, and eating a healthy diet.
The study followed 78,865 women and 44,354 men over a long period of time, observing changes in their living habits over a 30-year period and referring to the subjects’ medical records. Research shows that compared with subjects who do not adopt these five lifestyle habits, women who follow these five habits have an average life expectancy of about 14 years longer, while men live longer by 12 years.
In addition, subjects who followed the five habits had a 74% lower mortality rate than those who did not adopt them. Frank Hu, the lead author of the study, said that this indicates that a person follows a healthy lifestyle, which is related to a reduced risk of premature death; and the combined effect of the five habits is significantly related to the longest life expectancy.
Frank Hu said that although the United States is an important advanced country in the world, its life expectancy is relatively short compared with residents of other countries. “Many people know how to promote physical health. However, there are still very few people who insist on adopting healthy living habits.” Frank Hu believes that this study reveals the specific benefits of healthy living and may help awaken more people’s awareness. Health awareness.
Source:
Impact of Healthy Lifestyle Factors on Life Expectancies in the US Population
Estimating impact of food choices on life expectancy: A modeling study
Further reading:
Not only can it lower blood pressure? Study: “DASH Diet” Reduces Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers
