A massive study published in the journal “Nature Medicine” has results that might surprise some people who think they don’t need to worry about their health until they’re older. The study, which followed over 100-thousand Americans in their 40s, 50s, and 60s for up to 30 years, found that a healthy diet earlier in life was associated with a higher chance of healthy aging. The most surprising finding of the study was that people who weren’t physically active or even smoked still saw benefits.
In the study, “healthy aging” was defined as reaching the age of 70 without chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, and not having cognitive, physical, or mental health impairments. What wasn’t surprising was the kind of diet that gave the best results; eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, unsaturated fats, and low-fat dairy products. The worst diets? You guessed it…diets filled with trans fats, sodium, sugary drinks, and red or processed meats gave lower odds of healthy aging.
Source: CNN