How To Add Up To 10 Years To Your Life, According To Research

For this study, an international team of researchers and specialists wanted to assess how diet influences longevity, and namely, whether making healthy changes to your diet in middle age makes a difference in the long run.

Spoiler alert: It does—and a big difference at that.

Using data from the UK Biobank study, a large and long-term study on various genetic and environmental health factors, the researchers analyzed data from half a million participants in the UK who were between 40 and 69 years old when the study began in 2006.

These findings should come as great news to anyone interested in increasing their life span, or simply living well for longer. And while it's never too late to make healthy dietary changes, the study authors do note that switching later in life can add years but not as many as if you make the switch in middle age (aka—the sooner you start eating healthy, the better).

You might also be wondering how this study defined a "healthy eating pattern," so we'll add here that the researchers were using the UK's "EatWell Guide," which prioritizes whole foods, balanced portions, and minimally processed foods.

"The largest gains are obtained from consuming more whole grains, nuts, and fruits and fewer sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats," the study authors note.