Have you recently consumed grains and lentils? If not, now is the time to incorporate these ingredients into your daily diet. According to a new study, eating lentils and whole grains on a daily basis is linked to a 10-year increase in life expectancy over those who do not.
What exactly does this mean? You could live for an extra ten years if you reduced your consumption of red meat and processed meat in favor of more legumes, whole grains, and nuts.
The western diet versus the optimal diet
The authors of the study created a sort of benchmark by comparing a “typical Western diet” to a “optimal diet.” They discovered that switching to the latter could add 10.7 years to women’s lives and 13 years to men’s lives.
Taking into account the life expectancy of adults in the United States, the study concluded that making dietary changes earlier in life could lead to a longer life. Researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway discovered that the average American’s “typical Western diet” is devoid of legumes, fruits, and vegetables, instead of relying heavily on dairy and sugary drinks.
The study discovered that eating more legumes added 2.3 years to the life expectancy of both men and women combined. Furthermore, increasing the amount of whole grains added 2.2 years, while nuts added nearly 2 years.
The study, which was published in the journal PLOS Medicine, adds that making changes even in old age may reap benefits. Men and women in their 60s, for example, could gain 8.4 years of life if they swapped red meat and processed meats for this “optimal diet.” Even people in their 80s can gain 3.4 years.
Will you incorporate more legumes, nuts, and grains into your diet as a result of reading this article? Please let us know in the comments section below. Continue reading Indiatimes.com for more on technology and science.
