What you eat in your 40s matters in later life
A new study has shown that the diet eaten at the age of 40 can affect the quality of life at the age of 70.
The research examined data from more than 100,000 participants in the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, which spanned 30 years.
The study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Chicago, found that people who ate a healthy diet after the age of 40 had better physical and mental performance compared to those who did not. The difference was significant, ranging from 43 percent to 84 percent better performance.
Study lead author Ann-Julie Tessier said diet plays a significant role in protecting against chronic disease. However, few studies have examined and compared mental, physical, and overall health with healthy diets and overall healthy aging.
A higher intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, nuts, legumes, and low-fat dairy was found to be associated with a greater likelihood of healthy aging. Conversely, higher intakes of total meat, including trans fat, sodium, and processed meat, were associated with lower odds of healthy aging.
Researchers examined data from more than 16,000 people since 1986. At the start of the study, participants were at least 39 years old and did not suffer from chronic diseases. Throughout the study, these individuals were asked to fill out questionnaires about their diet every four years.
