According to a nutritionist, this diet prolongs life by 10 years.

A balanced diet is essential to keep our body healthy. But it’s not always easy to know what our body needs. However, by improving our eating habits now, we can improve our health today and tomorrow. This idea is defended by Dr. Federica Amati, professor of nutrition: “80% of chronic diseases can be prevented through diet and lifestyle changes. Our bodies naturally develop, change and adapt as we age, but we expect our diet to stay the same.” she explains on Instagram.

However, as we age, the absorption of nutrients and their use in our body becomes more and more difficult: “In general, we are becoming more insulin resistant. And insulin is a really important hormone for the absorption of all nutrients into cells, so older people are advised to consume more protein.” But this is not enough.

Based on the work of Professor John Mathers, the scientist explains that you can increase your life expectancy by 10-11 years simply by changing your diet from the age of 40. Professor Mathers’ study examined the dose-response relationship between intake of fifteen food groups and mortality. His team then noticed that certain dietary changes were associated with an increase in life expectancy of 5 to 10 years for participating women and men at age 40. “40 years is not a magic number, at 40 you can add 11 years to your life, and at 70 you can add up to 6 years.” emphasized Dr. Amati.

So what should we do to live longer? “Simply put, add more fruits, more vegetables, more legumes, more nuts and more seeds.” answered the nutritionist. This means following the principles of the famous Mediterranean diet. “Make sure each meal contains a very good source of plant protein, sometimes eggs or oily fish, cook your meal. beans, lentils and whole grains. These products provide great nourishment and natural hydration, which can truly improve a person’s quality of life, especially as we age.”