Tessier, AJ., Wang, F., Korat, A.A. et al. Nat Med (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03570-5. Open Access! Optimal dietary patterns for healthy aging
Key Points:
- Of >105,000 participants with 30-year follow-up, only 9.3% achieved healthy aging (age 70, w/o any chronic diseases). Their diet was significantly associated with this outcome
- A Mediterranean type diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, whole grains, low fat dairy products, plant-based foods, and a diet with reduced sodium, trans fats, animal-based foods, sugary beverages, ultra- processed foods was the optimal pattern
Green-favorable; Red-unfavorable
Eric Topol has provided an excellent commentary on this article for those interested in a deeper analysis: Our Diet and Healthy Aging
Dr. Topol notes that there has been a decline in interest in plant-based foods. “In The Atlantic magazine this week [among other big Signal things ;-)] there was an article (←gift link) on the loss of appeal of plant-based eating…” He also previews his new book Super Agers.
Related blog posts:
- Call For Action: Adolescent Nutrition Series | gutsandgrowth
- Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods on Bowel Health
- The Paramount Health Challenge for Humans in the 21st Century
- Ultraprocessed Food and the Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Is Red Meat More Likely to Cause High Cholesterol Than White Meat?
- For Increased Longevity: More Greens are Good
- Diet, Meat, and Colorectal Cancer
- Hot Study on Hot Dogs & Healthy Eating Habits
- “A Healthy Diet’s Main Ingredient? Best Guesses”
- Heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet
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