A new study published in the scientific journal Science Advances shows that adopting healthy eating habits after age 45 is associated with a potential increase in life expectancy, even for those who do not have a genetic tendency to longevity.
The researchers analyzed data for 103,649 participants from the UK Biobank project over a period of almost ten years, making these results among the most accurate in assessing the impact of food on life regardless of genetic factors.
The study reviewed five diets known to have health benefits, including the Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables and healthy fats, the blood pressure-lowering DASH diet, the healthy vegetarian diet, the Diabetes Risk Reduction Program, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), which focuses on food quality and avoiding sugars and processed meats.
The results revealed that full adherence to these diets after the age of 45 can increase life expectancy by two to three years, with slight differences depending on diet and gender.
The study also showed that the benefits are not only limited to increasing lifespan, but also include reducing the risk of death as a result of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
Experts explain that introducing gradual modifications to the diet, such as increasing consumption of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains and reducing sugars and processed meats, is considered more sustainable and effective than sudden changes, and they stress that dietary change is possible at any age to enhance health and improve quality of life.
