Healthy Eating Archive

We can learn much from people who continue to live productive lives into their 80s and 90s. Doctors in this demographic have a unique perspective as they have the lessons from their decades of medical practice and their personal experiences dealing with Father Time. Here, two Harvard physicians — Dr. Marshall Wolf, 87, and Dr. Mitchell Rabkin, 94 — share lessons they've learned over the decades from their practice and personal life about how they keep their body and mind strong, healthy, and thriving.

Eating a traditional Mediterranean diet or green Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes more foods high in plant foods, including green tea and duckweed, may help reduce brain shrinkage, a 2024 study suggests.

Men need adequate amounts of daily protein to help manage age-related muscle mass. While most of their protein should come from food to ensure they get the required nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, adding protein powder to their diet can help meet their daily quota. Depending on the brand, a single scoop of powder can offer 15 to 30 grams of protein per serving and can be mixed with water or milk or added to a smoothie.

Studies have shown that both coffee and tea drinkers may experience health benefits compared to people who don't consume these beverages. Experts point to the high amounts of caffeine and inflammation-fighting polyphenols in these drinks as possible reasons.

Both the Mediterranean diet and vegan diet can help stave off heart disease. But while the Mediterranean diet is slightly more expensive than the standard American diet, a vegan diet is 19% lower in cost, according to a 2024 analysis.