The Best Diets for Health Identified

Nutrition in middle age can become a decisive factor determining the quality of life in elderly years and significantly reducing the probability of developing chronic diseases. This significant conclusion was reached by a group of scientists after analyzing a large-scale data array collected over 30 years of health observations of 105 thousand participants aged 39 to 69 years. The results of this fundamental research were presented to the scientific community in the journal Nature Medicine.

During the work, specialists carefully studied the influence of various dietary models on the duration and quality of life of participants. Among the variety of dietary approaches, the Mediterranean diet, planetary diet, and a diet with a low glycemic index demonstrated the most favorable impact on healthy aging processes. The study showed that adherents of these dietary models were significantly more likely to maintain high indicators of physical and cognitive health after reaching the age of 70.

Researchers placed special emphasis on the importance of plant-based food and minimizing the consumption of ultra-processed products, including fast food and sweet beverages. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, and healthy fats demonstrated a pronounced positive effect on the overall condition of the body and slowed down age-related changes.

The study also established that reducing processed meat and high-sugar beverages in the diet correlates with a lower risk of developing chronic diseases and higher health indicators in general.

The scientific group emphasizes that despite the absence of a universal dietary solution suitable for absolutely everyone, a balanced diet with a predominance of plant components and reasonable limitation of animal products significantly contributes to maintaining health in old age.