The healthiest agers followed this diet, according to a sweeping 30 year longevity study

By Alexa Mikhail – Fortune Well –

While there is no silver bullet for healthy aging, there are habits that can help you age well—especially when it comes to what you eat.

In a 30-year study, researchers found that a certain diet was associated with healthy aging, defined as reaching the age of 70 without any major chronic health conditions, an intact memory, strong mental health, and the physical ability to move freely and climb stairs. Of the over 105,000 people studied, just one in ten were considered healthy agers—and they all had one thing in common: a diet rich in plant-based foods, low in highly processed foods, with a moderate intake of animal-based products.

In the study, published last month in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers tracked how closely participants followed a slew of healthy diets. While adhering to any of the diets, including the Mediterranean and Planetary Health diets, increased the chances of healthy aging, the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) was the most influential in improving people’s odds of maintaining strong mental and physical health at age 70.

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