Live Longer with the Mediterranean Diet
A study by researchers from the University of Gothenburg found that elderly indiÂvidÂuÂals in Sweden who folÂlowed a Mediterranean diet lived longer comÂpared to those who folÂlowed a Westernized diet with more meat and aniÂmal prodÂucts. The results, pubÂlished in the Journal AGE, showed a 20 perÂcent chance of livÂing longer for those folÂlowÂing a Mediterranean diet, corÂreÂspondÂing to an extra 2 – 3 years of life.
According to Swedish researchers from the University of Gothenburg, indiÂvidÂuÂals who folÂlow a Mediterranean type diet rich in vegÂetaÂbles, fish, and wholeÂgrain cereÂals while limÂitÂing aniÂmal prodÂucts such as meat and milk, live longer.
The researchers studÂied the diet of elderly Swedes and its effect on their health for over 40 years. The study, called H70, comÂpared 70 year olds who folÂlowed a Mediterranean diet with 70 year olds who folÂlowed a Westernized type diet, conÂsumÂing more meat and aniÂmal prodÂucts.
The results of the study pubÂlished in the Journal AGE, showed that indiÂvidÂuÂals who folÂlowed a Mediterranean diet had a 20 perÂcent chance of livÂing longer. According to Gianluca Tognon, one of the researchers, and a sciÂenÂtist at the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, this corÂreÂsponds to an extra 2 – 3 years.
Three other studÂies that have not been pubÂlished yet supÂport these results, and were carÂried out in Sweden, Denmark and on chilÂdren.
This study not only shows that a Mediterranean style diet can proÂlong life, but that it can be benÂeÂfiÂcial to peoÂple from all parts of the world.
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