The results of a new, multi-year study from Harvard University. What should be in our diet?
Harvard University scientists say that the diet we eat at the age of 40 can significantly affect the quality of our life in the 70s. However, not all healthy diets provide the same benefits.
This conclusion comes from a study with thousands of volunteers. Apparently, those who eat healthily in middle age are up to 84% more likely to be mentally and physically healthy in old age.
This finding is important because less than one in 10 people reach this age in good health. So maybe a healthy diet from the age of 40 can increase those chances.
The study was conducted in 1986 on 70,467 women and 36,464 men who did not suffer from chronic diseases. Scientists followed them for three decades, assessing their diet and health every 4 years.
as they also determined healthy aging When you are 70 years of age or older:
- Mental functions
- Physical functionality
- Their mental and physical health
Until 2016 only 9,837 of the volunteers (9.2% rate) met the criteria mentioned above.
findings
The scientists compared their diets with the progress of their health over time. They found that eating healthy starting at age 40 increased the chances of a healthy 70-year-old by 43% to 84%. But it was important what kind of healthy diet He did.
Volunteers e.g. Those who followed a vegetarian diet were more likely to age healthily, as were those who ate lots of plant-based foods, but also fish and low-fat dairy products.
More details, they had the best chance of aging healthily those following a diet that contains:
- Lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains
- Healthy and unsaturated fats (e.g. fish, olive oil)
- nuts
- Legumes
- Low-fat dairy products
They had the least chance of aging healthily those who eat a lot of trans fats (eg processed foods), salt, meat and meat products.
“Those who follow healthy eating habits in middle age, especially when the diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, have a significantly increased chance of healthy aging,” he said. leading researcher Dr. Anne-Julie Tessier Postdoctoral researcher at Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health.
“This finding suggests that diet in middle age plays an important role in how we age,” he said.
New research Presented at the annual conference of the American Nutrition Association (Nutrition 2024). Results presented at medical conferences are considered preliminary until published in a medical review.