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Adapting to a Diverse Eating Pattern can Increase Lifespan

Adapting to a Diverse Eating Pattern can Increase Lifespan

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A variety of healthy diets can reduce the chance of premature mortality

Highlights:
  • A variety of healthy eating patterns is associated with a lower risk of dying prematurely
  • The goal of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to give science-based dietary guidance that promotes good health and lowers major chronic diseases
  • Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes are the key components that have stayed consistent across all diets; however, other components differ between dietary patterns
A diversity of healthy eating behaviors is associated with a lower risk of early death. Participants who adhered to at least one of four healthy eating patterns were shown to be less likely to die during the research period from any cause and less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, cancer, or respiratory disease than those who did not. The findings are in accordance with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which advocate for a variety of healthful eating behaviors (1 Trusted Source
Healthy Eating Patterns and Risk of Total and Cause-Specific Mortality

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The Dietary Guidelines for Americans

“The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are intended to provide science-based dietary advice that promotes good health and reduces major chronic diseases. Thus, it is critical to examine the associations between DGAs-recommended dietary patterns and long-term health outcomes, especially mortality,” said corresponding author Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair of the Department of Nutrition.
Few studies have been conducted to determine whether greater adherence to the DGA’s recommended dietary patterns is related to a lower risk of total and cause-specific death over time. The researchers analyzed health data from 75,230 women in the Nurses’ Health Study and 44,085 men in the Health Professional’s Follow-up Study obtained over 36 years. At the start of the trial, all patients were clear of cardiovascular disease or cancer, and they completed dietary questionnaires every four years.

Their data was graded using each of the four dietary pattern indices (Healthy Eating Index 2015, Alternate Mediterranean Diet, Healthful Plant-based Diet Index, and Alternate Healthy Eating Index). Key components shared by everyone include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, however, other components vary across dietary patterns.

A higher score on at least one of the measures was linked to a lower chance of death from any cause, as well as from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory disease. Higher AMED and AHEI scores were related to a decreased probability of dying from a neurodegenerative illness. The findings were similar for non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics.

The current DGAs (2015–2020) advocate for a variety of healthy eating patterns that can be tailored to individual dietary traditions and tastes. The US Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) issue an updated version of the Guidelines every five years.

“It is important to evaluate adherence to DGAs-recommended eating patterns and health outcomes, including mortality, so that timely updates can be made,” said Hu. “Our findings will be valuable for the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which is being formed to evaluate current evidence surrounding different eating patterns and health outcomes.”

References :
  1. Healthy Eating Patterns and Risk of Total and Cause-Specific Mortality - (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2800411)


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