Published in PLOS Medicine by Lars Fadnes and colleagues out of University of Bergen in Norway, researchers estimate changing your diet off of a Western or Standard American Diet (SAD) can add more than ten years to a young adult’s life.

For this study, researchers utilized existing meta-analyses and data from the Global Burden of Diseases to build a model that instantly estimates the effect on the life expectancy through a range of dietary changes.

Researchers found that if an individuals changes their diets away from an American diet at the age of 20, he or she can add up to almost ten additional years.

Such a diet would include more legumes, whole grains, and nuts, as well as removing red and processed meat.

Researchers also found that if one were to optimize their diet at age 60, it would add 8-9 additional years; at age 80, would add 3.4 years.

“Research until now have shown health benefits associated with separate food group or specific diet patterns but given limited information on the health impact of other diet changes. Our modeling methodology has bridged this gap.” Stated Fadnes.

The calculator created by their model can be found here: https://food4healthylife.org/

If you actually care about your health, without an ounce of an excuse, you will make the changes to your diet now. Don’t wait till you get older and the damage becomes irreversible where you get less benefit from the dietary change. Also, it’s important to raise your children investing on a healthy diet so they develop good habits and health benefits that will pay off in dividends.

LT Fadnes et al. Estimating impact of food choices on life expectancy: A modeling study. PLOS Medicine https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003889