The 2nd key to a longer and better life 🍏

Hi and happy Tuesday!

Some weeks ago, I explained that the most important ‘thing’ you can do in order to improve the probability that you will live a long life (and live well), is to exercise regularly.

If you already do this, what is then the second ‘thing’ on the list that you can do to boost your life expectancy?

Eat a healthy diet.

Why is a healthy diet so important?

Each day, approximately 50 billion cells in your body die, while an equivalent number of new cells are created.

What are these new cells made of?

They are created from the foods and beverages you ingest.

If your diet consists of processed foods, sugar, alcohol, and fast food, do you believe your body can generate high-quality cells?

The answer is a resounding no. It's simply impossible!

Imagine constructing a house using decayed wood, rusty nails, shattered shingles, and cracked windows. What do you think the outcome would be?

Hence, in order to maintain - or rebuild - your body to be in optimal condition, it is imperative to consume the right foods and drinks! The right building materials.

Then what should and shouldn’t you consume?

You should steer clear of processed foods, curtail excessive sugar and salt consumption, stop alcohol, reduce meat intake (for the average person), and incorporate more fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, berries, mushrooms, and seeds into your diet.

Here is some research to back up the link between longevity and diets.

This 2022 research report on people in the United States found that a sustained change from a typical Western diet to the optimal diet from age 20, would increase life expectancy by 10.7 years for women, and 13.0 years for men.

Changing from a typical diet to the optimized diet at age 60 would increase life expectancy by 8.0 years for women, and 8.8 years for men.

80-year-olds would gain 3.4 years.

The largest gains were made by eating more legumes, whole grains, nuts, less red meat and processed meat. 

This 2023 research report on the UK population found that a sustained dietary change from unhealthy to longevity-associated dietary patterns, is associated with 10.8 and 10.4 years gain in life expectancy in 40-year-old males and females, respectively.

For 70-year-olds, the increases were 5.4  years for females and 5.0  years for males.

Takeaway: If you want to live longer and have better life quality, you ought to consume the right foods and drinks.

Who would not want to live another 10 years?

I do!

One key question remains:

What is the exact optimal diet?

I will tell you in 14 days.

What’s next?

In 7 days, I will send you a summary of key updates in the world of longevity.

In 14 days, I will tell you exactly what the optimal diet is. And I will tell you what I eat and drink.

Thank you very much for your time!

If you enjoyed this newsletter, I would be very grateful if you give it a ‘like’ (the ❤️ at the top).

Feel also free to comment on what you just read, I enjoy reading your comments.

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Have a good day,
Johan