According to a well-known Bible passage, we are allotted three score and ten years (70 years) on Earth. However, a new study has found that women who follow the Mediterranean diet are likely to exceed that limit. In addition, the added years were accompanied by generally good health. The study group consisted solely of women; however, the findings should also be applicable to men. The findings were published online on November 5 in the Annals of Internal Medicine by researchers at Harvard University (Boston. Massachusetts) and Université Bordeaux (Bordeaux, France).
The investigators noted that maintaining good health as one ages is criticala point that no one would dispute. For the study, the researchers accessed data from the large Nurses’ Health Study and focused on middle-aged women. They reviewed dietary data on 10,670 women who had no major chronic diseases between 1984 and 1986, when they were in their late 50s and early 60s (average age: 59 years). On an average of 15 years later, health information was obtained from the women.
The quality of the participants’ diet was assessed by two methods: the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) and Alternate Mediterranean diet scores. Healthy aging was defined as survival to 70 years or older with preservation of four aspects of good health: no major chronic diseases, no major impairment of cognitive function, no major impairment of physical function, and do significant mental health problems.
The investigators found that women who closely adhered to the AHEI-2010 in midlife had 34% greater odds of healthy versus usual aging. In addition, strong adherence to the Alternate Mediterranean diet was related to 46% increased odds of healthy aging. The researchers also analyzed the four components of healthy aging separately; they found that the AHEI-2010 and Alternate Mediterranean diet were significantly associated with greater likelihood of no major limitations in either physical function or mental health. In addition, these women were less likely to have developed conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, and diabetes.
The Mediterranean diet is characterized by: higher intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fish; lower intake of red and processed meats; moderate intake of alcohol; higher amounts of monounsaturated fats, mostly provided by olive oil from Mediterranean countries; and lower amounts of saturated fats. According to the American Heart Association, individuals who adhere to the Mediterranean diet typically consume more than half of their calories from healthy monounsaturated fats, usually found in olive oil.
The study authors concluded that a high quality diet during midlife appeared to be strongly linked to improve health and well-being in women surviving to older ages.