Switching to a Healthy Diet can Add 10 Years to Life

[multigraincracker]

“Our results indicate that for individuals with a typical Western diet, sustained dietary changes at any age may give substantial health benefits, although the gains are the largest if changes start early in life,” say the researchers.

Depending how many healthy dietary “switches” are made and maintained and the amounts consumed, a 20-year-old man in the U.S. could extend his life up to 13 years, and a 20-year old woman by 11 years.

That number drops with age but changing from a typical diet to the optimized diet at age 60 years could still increase life expectancy by 8 years for women and 9 years for men, and even an 80-year-old female could gain more than three years with healthier food choices.

Until now, research in this area has shown health benefits associated with separate food group or specific diet patterns, while focusing less on the health impact of other diet changes. The statistical ‘modelling’ approach used in this study bridges that gap, the researchers say.

“Understanding the relative health potential of different food groups could enable people to make feasible and significant health gains,” they conclude.
https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20220208/switching-healthy-diet-add-years-to-life

I started later in life. Looks like it may not be too late.

[dameatball]

1. I am later in life also and this is an encouraging reminder. With all the crap going on we still

need to remember to take care of ourselves. My basic diet is good but too much unhealthy snacking in the evenings. Need to pay more attention to that. Thanks for posting.

[multigraincracker]

2. I've found that protein shakes

in the evening helps me with hunger at that time of day. I’ve been drinking 2 of them a day. My love handles are gone. I don’t miss them at all.

[NJCher]

3. This helps me with healthy eating

My trick to defeat late night snacking is to do vegetable preparation for the next day while watching TV.

I choose my recipes and then do the prep. I make sure everything is ready before meal time. By doing it this way, assembly of the mail only takes about 30 minutes or less.

Another bonus to the system is that I preserve daylight hours for other tasks.

My favorite thing to do is to peruse my cookbook collection for new recipes.

[exboyfil]

4. I am about a month in on this keto diet thing

Given up pasta, rice, and bread wasn't that big of a deal. Potatoes on the other hand.

It is a lot of work with a fulltime job, and a non-supportive McDonald's eating spouse; but I feel great. Just fixed blackened tilapia and fried eggplant and it filled me right up. Still a challenge to go 12 hours between meals. I don't buy all the fat thing with it (I am still zealous about removing visible fat from steak and no chicken skin), but I am using an incredible amout of olive oil and butter (I actually cut back on recipes). Love the avacodo a day.

One thing about eating well is that it can be expensive (versus my old standby cheese, salsa, and baked potato). The basis for keto is zucchini, summer squash, broccoli, and cauliflower; and that is a whole lot more expensive than potatoes. My wife has said a few things about the cost, but it is not like I eat a McD breakfast sandwich a day with a follow up to Culvers, Pablos, or another fast food place in the evening. My wife must get at least 60% of her nutritional calories from fast food.

[rainin]

5. Check out freezerfit

I bought the membership for my son and we're both using it now to make preportioned keto meals we can freeze ahead. It really helps for a busy schedule. I think about meal prep for 2 days out of every 2 weeks. The rest of the time, I just pull out a meal and cook it in the toaster oven. The meals are delicious, too!

[exboyfil]

6. Thanks for the suggestion

[multigraincracker]

7. I did the Keto diet for a few months.

Then I kind of gave it up. Still cut out empty carbs.
Cold and ice have kept me off the track for a while now and I miss my jogging. Won’t be long though. That last 7 pounds to get to my perfect weight has been hard. But I haven’t put any back on.
Sometimes I get a double burger when I’m on the road and toss away the bun.

[exboyfil]

8. Getting rid of the bun is a good idea

I still would like to be compensated for that lost bun though. My wife desparately wants me to accept fast food when she goes someplace, but frankly I can't stand the taste after cooking for myself. If nothing more my wife bought a bunch of hamburger on sale that is in the freezer. Making that up and adding mustard and surrounding with healthy vegetables is a whole lot more appealing.

[multigraincracker]

9. Much cheaper too.

I can make an egg sandwich for more like 5 cents than 2 or 3 bucks.

[exboyfil]

10. The McDonalds eggs taste better even after being reheated (at least according to her)

I don't understand it. My daughter speculates they put something like crack in the food. My wife almost had a breakdown when she went to Burger King on New Year's Day and found out it was closed. She desperately called the nearby McDonalds to place an order before it switched to its lunch menu. I was frankly shocked. My daughter said it is a regular occurence for my wife.

[mitch96]

11. For me eating healthy is going vegetarian with some exceptions..

If invited over for dinner and prime rib is offered I won't be offended, just eat a smaller portion of meat. Continue with the veg way of eating the next day.. Every once in a while I feel like having a piece of salmon.. go for it. I just don't make it a habit.

I want QUALITY in my life not quantity.. Healthy till the day I die, don't want to be bed ridden and decrepit when I'm 90
So far it's working.. Blood sugar/Blood pressure all good.. actually all blood work is very good for a 72 year old guy. I walk every day and go to the gym three times a week. Yoga in the AM along with meditation.. It's work to stay healthy and I have been doing it for years.....
A good way to start is reading
The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner. It's about how the healthiest and longest living people around the world and how they do it..
QUALITY not quantity.. YMMV
m

[multigraincracker]

12. Same age and do a lot of running, eat best I can without eating

factory farm meat. I eat lamb, goat and wild game, mostly road kill deer. I buy from local farmers and butchered locally. I eat better than mom and dad did and they lived into their 90s..
Most of long living is like diarrhea, it runs in your genes.

I have respect for everyone that puts thought into what they eat and do.

[mitch96]

13. " Same age and do a lot of running".. I wish I could run again.. Arthritis has taken it's toll

I use to run but dragging beached whales across an x-ray table for 40+ years has taken it's toll on my back.. I know my limits and work around them...
I applaud your work..
m

[multigraincracker]

14. Thanks

I worked in a car factory and the last years loading cars on trains. That was the most dangerous job they had. I was very lucky to make it thru those years. Plus even more lucky to make it thru my years of drug abuse. I just feel lucky.
My girl friend is a nurse and just had shoulder surgery from lifting patients, so I get it.

Many of the people that retired with me, sat around watching tv and are now dead. My motto is "keep moving".

I credit most of my health to mom and dad.

[Midnight Writer]

15. I can vouch for this. I started taking my diet seriously when I was 60, and it is a huge difference.

I feel so much better, and that is verified by medical data. Cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, blood sugar all way down. In addition, I can see the difference in the mirror.

Nothing hardcore. I allow indulgences. I don't go hungry. I overdo on holidays. I just make better food choices day to day.

[multigraincracker]

16. I like to say

Eat to live
don't
Live to eat

[mitch96]

17. +1