GOTHENBURG, Sweden—Individuals who follow a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, low-fat dairy, whole grains and olive oil live an average of 23 years longer than individuals who eat more meat and animal products, according to a new study published in the journal Age.
Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg studied the effects of a Mediterranean diet on older people in Sweden. They have used the “H70 study" to compare 70-year-olds who eat a Mediterranean diet with others who have eaten more meat and animal products. The H70 study has studied thousands of 70-year-olds in the Gothenburg region for more than 40 years.
The results show that those who eat a Mediterranean diet have a 20% higher chance of living longer.
“This means in practice that older people who eat a Mediterranean diet live an estimated 23 years longer than those who don’t," the researchers said. “The conclusion we can draw from these studies is that there is no doubt that a Mediterranean diet is linked to better health, not only for the elderly but also for youngsters."
