Switching to a healthy diet in middle age could extend your life

A 40-year-old woman could live approximately eight years and seven months longer if they make simple changes such as cutting down on bacon and eating more nuts.

The same dietary alteration could help a 40-year-old man extend his life expectancy by almost nine years.

Study results suggest that age has no bearing on the positives of a diet overhaul, as even a 70-year-old shifting to the NHS Eatwell Guide saw nearly half of the increase in life expectancy as those in their 40s.

Professor Lars Thadnes, who led the study from the University of Bergen in Norway, said: "Healthy eating can prevent premature deaths from things like heart attacks and strokes.

"People changing their diet as much as possible could help to achieve targets to reduce these avoidable deaths.

"A key priority is for people to reduce their consumption of sugary drinks like cola and lemonade, and processed meats like bacon and sausages, and to eat more whole grains and nuts."

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