A Simple Way to Extend Life by Several Years Has Been Identified 0 9

Following healthy eating patterns can add several additional years to life. This conclusion was reached by researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China, who analyzed data from more than 100,000 participants in the UK Biobank. The work was published in Science Advances (Sci Adv).

The scientists assessed how well participants' diets aligned with five recognized 'healthy' diets: the Mediterranean diet, DASH (for blood pressure control), plant-based diet, diet for reducing diabetes risk, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI). The observation lasted for more than ten years. During this time, researchers compared dietary habits, genetic traits related to longevity, and mortality rates.

Calculations showed that for 45-year-olds, switching to one of these diets could increase life expectancy by 2–4 years compared to the least healthy diet. The greatest increase was associated with the AHEI: up to 4.3 years for men and 3.2 years for women. The Mediterranean diet and diabetes prevention-focused eating also demonstrated a significant effect.

Whole grains, vegetables, and fruits showed the most consistent association with longevity. The authors emphasize that the benefits of a healthy diet persisted regardless of genetic predisposition to longevity, confirming the important role of nutrition as a modifiable risk factor.