Diets rich in plant-based foods linked to healthy aging
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- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Following a mostly plant-based diet starting in middle age can boost your chances of healthy aging, a new study reports. Healthy aging is defined as reaching age 70 free from heart disease or another chronic ailment while also maintaining your cognitive, physical, and mental health.
Harvard researchers examined the midlife diets and health outcomes for more than 105,000 adults. Participants ranged in age from 39 to 69 at the start and were followed over a period of 30 years. Their diets were scored based on how well they adhered to eight healthy dietary patterns.
The leading one was the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and healthy fats and discourages red and processed meats, sugary beverages, sodium, and refined grains. People whose AHEI score fell in the highest quintile had an 86% greater chance of healthy aging at age 70 and a 2.2 times greater chance of healthy aging at age 75 compared to those whose AHEI score fell in the lowest quintile. The study was published March 24, 2025, in Nature Medicine.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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