Healthy Aging

🧠🥦 Want to age well? Your midlife diet really matters -- big time.

 A new long-term study in Nature Medicine followed 100,000+ people for 30 years and found that people who stuck to healthy diets in midlife were more likely to age in good health.

✅ The best-performing diet was the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) – rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats, with less red meat, processed foods, and sugar.

 📊 People in the healthiest diet group had up to 86% better odds of aging well — meaning they were more likely to avoid chronic diseases, maintain physical and mental health, and live past 70.

🍩 On the flip side? Diets high in ultra processed foods (think chips, soda, fast food) were linked to significantly lower chances of aging in good shape.

What can we do? If there was a mark on the food packages showing how ultra processed they are, we could have made more informed decisions. Not only considering the ingredients though, both ingredients and the processing that the food is going through. 

This study shows it’s not just about living longer — it’s about staying sharp, mobile, and happy while doing it.

👵🏽👴🏽💚 So, the earlier you start eating smart, the better your shot at a healthier, brighter future.

✅ Foods that boost healthy aging:

Vegetables (+0.86)

Fruits

Whole Grains

Nuts & Legumes

Healthy Fats

❌ Foods that hurt healthy aging:

Red/Processed Meats

Sugary Drinks

Ultra-Processed Foods (worst impact)

Here’s a visual summary (from the paper) of the best and worst foods for healthy aging👇

Do you know some people who aged in an extremely healthy way?

🔗 Read the full study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03570-5