A nutrition scientist has revealed that a simple change in diet at a certain age could add an extra decade to your life. Speaking on the Zoe podcast, Dr Federica Amati explained that altering dietary habits at the age of 40 can have a significant impact.
As we age, our bodies change and foods that once made us feel fit and healthy may no longer have the same effect. During the podcast, Zoe CEO Jonathan Wolf asked her: “One thing that really struck me in your book. You say that improving your diet at the age of 40 can add a decade to your life. Can you tell me some more about that? ” She went on to explain that a study by Professor John Mathers examined the effects of following UK ‘base dietary patterns’, which she described as not very good.
By improving this to meet standard dietary guidelines, you could potentially add six years to your life. She then posed the question: “Then what happens if you actually take that further and follow what they’ve called a longevity pattern? Mediterranean style diet.”
In a recent interview, a prominent nutrition expert emphasised the life-extending potential of diet by stating, “So basically, add more fruits, more vegetables, more legumes, more nuts, more seeds. And then it shoots up to adding 10 to 11 years to your life at age 40. But that study also looked at what happens if you do the same at age 70. 40 is not a magic number, right. You could add up to 11 years to your life at age 40 but you can add up to six years to your life at age 70 now, of course, this is a modelling study, but it conceptualises and it shows us the impact which diet is likely to have.”
She further explained that as people age, their efficiency in absorbing and utilizing nutrients decreases, saying, “Typically, we become more insulin resistant. And insulin is this hormone, which is really important for the uptake of all nutrients into cells, which is why there’s a recommendation for more protein for older adults. Now, what I will say is this increase is minimal. We’re talking about from 0.83 g per kilogram of body weight, maybe up to 1 g per kilogram with older people.”
“If they become malnourished, if they become dehydrated, it’s a much more severe effect. So make sure that every meal opportunity for the older person in your life, if that’s you has a really good source of plant protein in it, or perhaps it’s eggs every now and then or perhaps it’s oily fish, but really embracing nutrient dense foods, making like these really delicious soups and stews with beans and lentils and whole grains and making the most of these foods that we know are brilliant at nourishing us and they are naturally hydrating, can really help someone’s quality of life.”