Everyone has probably heard many times that eating healthy is good for the body. It improves overall health and can prevent certain diseases.
But recent studies have proved that a healthy diet can prolong life, writes Nature. Previous studies have shown that tens of thousands of people died every year because of bad habits. A healthy diet reduces the likelihood of premature death.
Specialists from Norway, Australia and the UK, led by Professor Lars Fadnes conducted a study to understand how compliance with the principles of a balanced diet Eatwell influences life expectancy.
The Eatwell Balanced Nutrition Principles state that you should eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, eat whole grains, high-fiber carbohydrates and low-fat and low-sugar dairy products. You should also reduce your intake of red and processed meat to 70g per day and replace it with low-fat, high-protein and high-fiber foods.
According to the long-term study UK Biobank, conducted to study the influence of genetics and environment on the development of various diseases, allowed scientists to analyze the dietary habits of 467,354 participants.
Thus, according to the study, the average life expectancy of 40-year-old women with a balanced diet is 44.7 years, and men – 41.5 years, for 70-year-olds – 17.6 and 15.5 years, respectively.
For 70-year-old women and men, the increase would be 4.4 years (UI 3.6-5.4 years) and 4 years (UI 3.4-5.1 years), respectively.
Which foods are the healthiest
Whole-grain foods, nuts and fruits contributed the most to improved health. And reducing consumption of sugary drinks and processed meats also had a positive impact on health.
The scientists concluded that the results of the study could help shape health policy in different countries. They suggested using different methods to stimulate healthy eating, such as increasing taxes on unhealthy food.
