New evidence suggests that a diet consisting mainly of plant foods with low and moderate amounts of fish and poultry gives a better chance of being independent and healthy in old age.
A British study found that people who conscientiously followed the Mediterranean diet, as a rule, are 50% less likely to become frail in old age than those who neglect their diet. Fragility implies a lack of energy, weight loss, weak muscle strength and, as a result, a lower quality of life, frequent falls with fractures, disability, dementia and premature death. Scientists claim that it is the consumption of Extra Virgin olive oil that is a potential protection of your health in old age. To make you understand the scale, 5,789 people over the age of 60 from France, Spain, Italy and China were analyzed.
Following the Mediterranean diet is beneficial for the intestinal microbiome, which, in turn, greatly affects overall well-being and aging. The microbiome is a collection of beneficial and harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses in the human body, and it can be controlled. While you can't stop the merciless passage of time, you can slow down the effects of aging on health.
As people age, they experience a decline in body functions that lead to weakness and illness. This weakness correlates with the loss of diversity of bacterial strains that make up the microbiome.
The Mediterranean diet consists mainly of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, olive oil and fish. It is also low in red meat, saturated fats, sweets and dairy products. An experience with 935 elderly people from the Netherlands, France, Italy, Great Britain and Poland showed that in just a year those who ate according to the Mediterranean type ended up with more beneficial bacteria and a more diverse microbiome. That is, they strengthened their body without much effort. Along with improving physical health, they also improved their cognitive functions, thought faster and were in a good mood more often. Thus, the positive effect on overall health caused by improved intestinal health was confirmed. You can start eating right at any time, and if you don't prolong your life, then you can certainly make old age easy and joyful.