According to a new study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, changing what we eat could add up to 13 years to our life, particularly if we start at a young age.

Investigators used available meta-analyses and data from the Global Burden of Disease study. They developed a model for what could happen to an individual’s longevity if a typical Western diet is replaced with an optimized diet, with focus on less red and processed meat and more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. The study revealed that if a woman started eating optimally at 20 years of age, she could increase her lifespan by a little over 10 years. A man starting to eat a healthier diet from age 20 could add 13 years to his life.

When starting at age 60, a woman could add 8 years to her life, while men starting a healthier diet at age 60 may add about 9 years to their lifespan… (CNN, February 8, 2022)