Scientists from Aarhus University in Denmark have shown that following the new Scandinavian dietary guidelines is associated with increased life expectancy. The study, published in The Journal of Nutrition (JN), found that middle-aged and older men and women (aged 45 to 83) in Sweden who followed these dietary guidelines had a 23 percent lower risk of premature death compared to those who followed them least closely.
This doesn't mean that everyone will live to be 100, but the chances of a long and healthy life increase significantly, as if you get a health bonus for making the right food choices.
The diet is based on less sugar and processed meat, but more whole grains (rye, oats, barley), fish and seafood, legumes, fruits, vegetables, root vegetables, rapeseed oil, as well as lean meat and dairy products. Scientists note that such a diet reduces mortality not only from all causes in general, but also from cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
In essence, it's like replacing “fast fuel” for the body with “quality and long-lasting.” Instead of sweet buns and sausages, which give a short burst of energy and contain not always useful impurities, you get whole grain bread and fish. The first gives energy slowly and for a long time thanks to fiber, and the second – healthy omega-3 fats, which are “lubricants” for the heart and brain. And fruits and vegetables are like a daily dose of vitamins that strengthen your “internal shield” against diseases, including the most serious ones, such as heart problems or cancer.
The study was based on data from more than 76,000 participants in two large Swedish cohort projects, where dietary habits and lifestyle have been recorded since 1997.
To put this into perspective, imagine that scientists are trainers who have been observing a huge “team” of 76,000 people for over 25 years. They didn’t interfere, but simply carefully recorded: “Yes, this participant ate fish today, and this one ate a hamburger.” Thanks to this long-term “diary” of habits, it is now possible to draw reliable conclusions about how nutrition affects lifespan. The more people and the longer the observation period, the more accurate and convincing the results.
The authors emphasize that the value of the recommendations lies in their comprehensive approach, which takes into account not only human health but also the impact on the climate. This is important, since it is generally estimated that about 30 percent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food production and consumption.
That is, by choosing such a diet, you take care not only of yourself, but also of the planet. How does it work? For example, raising cows that make beef steaks requires much more land, water and resources than growing lentils or oats. In addition, animal husbandry is one of the main sources of greenhouse gases (such as methane) that cause global warming. Thus, your choice in favor of fish, legumes or vegetables is a small but real step towards reducing the burden on the environment. This is the same comprehensive approach: a healthy you – a healthy planet.
