Following a healthy diet in midlife is associated with an increased likelihood of healthy ageing, finds a Harvard study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition. The study included 1,06,931 participants aged 39 and older and free of chronic diseases at the start of the study in 1986. They provided information about their diet via questionnaires every four years.
During 30 years of follow up, almost half of the participants had died and only 9,837 (9.2 per cent) survived to 70 and beyond without chronic diseases while maintaining good physical, cognitive and mental health.
Those who followed a healthy diet from age 40 were up to 84 per cent more likely to achieve healthy ageing compared with those who did not. They were able to live independently and enjoy good quality of life as they grew older.
Higher intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, legumes and low-fat dairy were associated with a greater chance of healthy ageing, while higher intake of trans fat, sodium, total meats, red and processed meats were associated with a lower chance of healthy ageing.
“This suggests that what you eat in midlife can play a big role in how well you age,” the study said.