High consumption of ultra-processed foods, especially processed meats and sweets and beverages, reduces the chances of healthy aging.
A recent study found that diets high in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, legumes and low-fat dairy products were associated with health, while sodium, sugary drinks, red meat and processed meat were associated with health risks. The findings were based on a survey of more than 100,000 people on their diets and health.
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The study focused on people’s diets and how long they lived, focusing on specific diseases. Ours was a multifaceted approach, asking how diet affects people’s ability to live and enjoy a good quality of life as they age.
The study was conducted using data from a follow-up study of researchers and health professionals on 105,000 people aged 39 to 69.
The diet and ultimate health outcomes of the women and men included in the study were examined. The participants completed regular dietary questionnaires, on which the researchers noted how well they followed eight healthy eating patterns. These included the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), the Mediterranean Healthy Eating, the Plant-Based Diet, and the Planetary Health Diet Index. The details of these were also given by the people involved in the study, on the basis of which the experts drew conclusions.
According to them, each of these diets, which included fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts and legumes, proved to be very healthy, and the quality of life of those who ate them improved.
The effects on the diet and health of the women and men included in the study were examined. Similarly, certain food products obtained from fish and milk (dairy products) were also found to be beneficial for health.
The researchers also examined the participants’ intake of ultra-processed foods, which are industrially produced foods that often contain artificial ingredients such as sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats. According to the study results, high consumption of ultra-processed foods, especially processed meats and sweets and beverages, reduces the chances of healthy aging.
