Study Says Diet Changes When Young May Increase Longevity Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search NEWS Fitness and Nutrition News Diet Changes When Young May Add a Decade to Your Life, Study Says By Elizabeth Millard Elizabeth Millard Elizabeth Millard is a freelance journalist specializing in health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition. Learn about our editorial process Published on February 25, 2022 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist who has covered technology, finance, sports, and lifestyle. Learn about our editorial process Print SolStock / Getty Images Key Takeaways Young adults in the U.S. could add more than 10 years to their life expectancy by shifting away from a typical Western diet, a new study suggests.This revised diet would include more legumes, whole grains, and nuts, along with less red and processed meat.The need for a large-scale shift is important, considering that other recent research suggests that life expectancy in the U.S. is shortening, in part due to lifestyle-related conditions. If young adults in the United States changed from a Western-style diet toward one including more legumes, whole grains, and nuts, they could add up to a decade on their life expectancy, according to a study in PLOS Medicine. Those who are older could also lengthen their lives, but to a more modest degree, researchers noted. Using a food modeling calculator that estimates life expectancy with a range of dietary choices, researchers found that adding those foods specifically, and avoiding red and processed meat, had the greatest effects for both men and women. Study Results The largest gain was in eating more legumes, which include foods like beans, peas, and lentils. These choices have nutritional advantages, such as soluble fiber, quality protein, and micronutrients like zinc, calcium, and iron. They also are resistant starches, which help regulate blood sugar. Lars Fadnes, PhD The takeaway message with this research is that diet changes can have a considerable impact not just on your health throughout your life, but can significantly increase how long you live as well. — Lars Fadnes, PhD According to previous research, a Western diet typically includes low amounts of fruits and vegetables, high calories, large portions, excess sugar, and high amounts of saturated and trans fats. "The takeaway message with this research is that diet changes can have a considerable impact, not just on your health throughout your life, but can significantly increase how long you live as well," says lead researcher Lars Fadnes, PhD, professor in the department of global public health and primary care at the University of Bergen in Norway. "Even for older people, the gains would be smaller but substantial." Higher Olive Oil Intake Associated With Lower Mortality Rates, Study Shows Important Pivot Finding ways to address life expectancy has taken on new urgency, considering that the U.S. seems to be moving in the wrong direction currently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2020 that life expectancy at birth in the U.S. declined by 1.5 years from 2019 to 2020. Factors for this decline included increases in accidents and unintentional injuries, drug overdoses, homicide, diabetes, chronic liver disease, and cirrhosis. The drop in life expectancy noted in the report is the largest one-year decline since World War II, when life expectancy dropped by nearly three years between 1942 and 1943. Vegetables are Associated with Happiness, Study Says Making a Shift Although diet changes obviously would not directly impact issues like drug overdoses or accidents, nutritional shifts could have a significant effect on chronic diseases, such as diabetes and liver disease. Jeff McIntyre, Global Liver Institute Regular exercise and good nutrition, and especially avoiding too much sugar, can be major for liver health. Diabetes and liver disease are considered lifestyle-related conditions because although they may have genetic components, they can be managed. In some cases, they can even be reversed through modifications like nutritious eating. “The good news is that lifestyle changes can make a big difference for those with liver issues," says Jeff McIntyre, NASH program director for the Global Liver Institute. "Regular exercise and good nutrition, and especially avoiding too much sugar, can be major for liver health.” The recent study didn't include sugar recommendations, but McIntyre says overconsumption of added sugars is related to the rise of fatty liver disease over the past couple of decades and is also tied to other metabolic problems. Another issue is a rise in sedentary habits, which is a risk factor for metabolic disease and liver problems, he says. A report in JAMA in 2019 noted that in the U.S. population, sedentary behavior has remained high for 15 years, and has been associated with increased risk of multiple diseases and early mortality. COVID has worsened the situation, particularly for young adults, according to a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. "Physical activity is huge in protecting your liver as well as maintaining your health in general," McIntyre says. "There is also a major mental health boost that comes with exercise, which is important for staying on track with these lifestyle changes, no matter what age you are." What This Means For You Making a shift toward dietary changes like legumes, whole grains, and nuts could help young adults lengthen their lives by up to a decade, a new study suggests. Even older adults can benefit from making these changes. If you need help incorporating changes into your regular meal plans, talk to a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian. Less Sleep Could Increase Sugar Cravings in Teens, Study Says 5 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Fadnes LT, Økland JM, Haaland ØA, Johansson KA. Estimating impact of food choices on life expectancy: A modeling study. Fontana L, ed. PLoS Med. 2022;19(2):e1003889. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1003889 Rakhra V, Galappaththy SL, Bulchandani S, Cabandugama PK. Obesity and the Western diet: How we got here. Mo Med. 2020;117(6):536-538. PMID:33311784 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provisional life expectancy estimates for 2020. Yang L, Cao C, Kantor ED, et al. Trends in sedentary behavior among the U.S. population, 2001-2016. JAMA. 2019;321(16):1587. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3636 Zheng C, Huang WY, Sheridan S, Sit CHP, Chen XK, Wong SHS. Covid-19 pandemic brings a sedentary lifestyle in young adults: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. IJERPH. 2020;17(17):6035. doi:10.3390/ijerph17176035 By Elizabeth Millard Elizabeth Millard is a freelance journalist specializing in health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Related Articles How Flexible Is the Flexitarian Diet Really? What Is the Green Mediterranean Diet? Too Much Added Sugar May Increase Risk of Fatty Liver Disease in Kids What You Need to Know About Vitamin E Supplements What Is the Starch Solution? 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