A new study finds that adults who limit ultra-processed foods and consume a diet rich in plant-based foods are less likely to develop a major chronic disease before they celebrate their 70th birthday.
The study, published in Nature Medicine, looked at the eating habits of more than 100,000 middle-aged adults over the course of a three-decade study. The researchers found that diets filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, and beans were linked to healthier aging and lower susceptibility to chronic diseases.
The study’s authors, a team of researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the University of Copenhagen, and the University of Montreal, defined “healthy aging” as reaching at least age 70 without chronic disease while maintaining healthy cognitive abilities, physical fitness, and mental well-being.
To conduct the study, the researchers analyzed the self-reported dietary patterns of 105,015 middle-aged U.S. health professionals from 1986 to 2010. Then, in 2016, the researchers evaluated the participants for markers of healthy aging.
Participants were asked how often they consumed more than 130 different foods every four years. Adhering to healthier diets was linked to higher chances of healthy aging. The diets in question all contained relatively higher quantities of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, legumes, and low-fat dairy.
It should be noted, however, that one of the authors, Marta Guasch-Ferré, is the principal investigator of an International Nut Council-funded grant.
Other studies have also demonstrated the health benefits of avoiding ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Earlier this month, The Dallas Express reported that a recent eight-week study found that cutting the intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) resulted in an average weight loss of just shy of eight pounds and improved energy levels.
The average American continues to rely mostly on UPFs for their daily caloric needs. In fact, 60% of the daily calories Americans consume are derived from UPFs. For American children, the number is even higher at 70%.