Never too late

Nutrition Action Healthletter, Nov, 2004

Want to stick around to see your great-grandchildren?

In a study of more than 2,300 people in 11 European countries, those who ate a healthy Mediterranean diet, exercised, didn't smoke, and drank alcohol moderately were less likely to die in their 70s and 80s.

The researchers gave the highest diet scores to people who ate less meat, dairy, and saturated fat and more fruits, vegetables, beans, fish, grains, nuts, and unsaturated fats. People with the highest scores had a 23 percent lower risk of dying during the 10-year study.

Not smoking and staying physically active each cut the risk about 35 percent. People who drank alcohol moderately had a 22 percent lower risk. And the folks who scored high on all four measures were 65 percent less likely to die of any cause, including heart disease and cancer.

What to do: All of the above. Just don't equate a Mediterranean diet with pizza or lasagna. And don't use the study as an excuse to start drinking.

J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 292: 1433, 2004.