A study carried out by scientists at the University of Bergen, Norway, showed that Healthy eating can increase life expectancy. In that sense, now check out the details of this research and what changes you should make in your diet to achieve longevity.
Read more: Antioxidant foods: See what to consume to boost your immunity
see more
Secret of youth? Researchers reveal how to reverse…
The "powers" of porridge: check out the benefits of oats in…
How can food increase life expectancy by up to 13 years?
O study, which was published in the journal Plos Medicine, estimated how much life would not be lost if people replaced the typical Western dietary pattern (rich in red meat, sugars and processed foods) for a diet based on legumes and grains integrals.
With this, the researchers came to the conclusion that a 20-year-old in the United States can have an increase of up to 13 years in life expectancy with this change. Women of the same age would have an increase of 10.7 years.
Regarding the elderly, the results showed an increase of 3.4 years in life expectancy for those aged 80 years. Finally, such alterations in the dietary pattern can benefit all age groups, but the gain is smaller as the alterations occur later.
Healthy eating: what do health authorities say?
The second edition of the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population, published in 2014 by the Ministry of Health, strongly encourages the consumption of fresh and minimally processed foods. That means the most natural foods possible, without adding excessive amounts of sugar, sodium and fats.
Examples of these foods are: rice, beans, lentils, chickpeas, corn, fruits in general and vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes and cassava. In short, they are all those that can go from farm to table, without the need for various industrial processes to become fit for consumption.
On the other hand, the Guide discourages the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods, such as soft drinks, packaged snacks, sausages, instant noodles, among others.
What does the WHO say?
The World Health Organization (WHO) also warns of reducing the consumption of foods full of sugars, additives, sodium and fats. That's because they contribute to increased cases of cancer, hypertension, diabetes and other chronic diseases. Therefore, take care of your diet and give preference to a more natural food pattern. Your health thanks you!