A recent study conducted by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health highlights that adopting healthy eating habits in midlife can have a profound impact on long-term health and lifespan.
The study, presented at the American Academy of Nutrition annual meeting in Chicago, analysed data on 106,931 people over a 30-year period beginning in 1986.
Participants were at least 39 years old at the start of the study and had no chronic illnesses.
The main findings were that almost half of the participants had died by 2016, but about 9.2% had lived to age 70 without suffering from a chronic disease.
People who adopted healthy eating habits starting at age 40 were 43% to 84% more likely to maintain their physical and mental health until at least age 70 compared to those who did not adopt healthy eating habits.
“Our study provides evidence for dietary recommendations that consider not only disease prevention but also promoting overall healthy aging as a long-term goal,” said Anne-Julie Tessier, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University.
Research highlights that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, legumes and low-fat dairy products increases the odds of healthy aging.
In contrast, consuming high amounts of trans fats, sodium, red meat, and processed meats reduces the chances of healthy aging.
Dr Tessier concluded: “People who maintained a healthy diet in midlife – particularly one rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats – were significantly more likely to achieve healthy ageing. This suggests that what we eat in midlife may have a significant impact on how well we age.”
The study confirmed that the association between a healthy diet and healthy aging remained strong, even after accounting for other factors known to affect health, such as physical activity.
