What we eat earlier in life has a profound effect on long-term health and aging. Many studies confirm that eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly is essential to long-term health.
Multiple studies have found that proper nourishment can increase life expectancy. The biggest gains come from eating plenty of nuts and legumes, whole grains, fruits, vegetables. Also, indulging in less processed meat, red meat, sugar and refined carbohydrates has a significant positive effect. And, a large study showed that artificially sweetened soft drinks are associated with deaths from circulatory diseases.1
A 2023 study showed an increase for 40 year-old males and females in longevity of 10.8 and 10.4 years respectively, with the largest gains resulting from consuming more whole grains, nuts and fruits and less sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats.2
A Harvard study3 showed that five lifestyle factors appear to be the most important for a longer, healthier life. They are: 1) eating a healthy diet, 2) exercising regularly, 3) maintaining a proper diet weight, 4) not smoking, 5) drinking alcohol only in moderation.
The study determined that men practicing four or five of these healthy habits at age 50 lived approximately 31 additional years free of chronic disease. In contrast, men who did not follow the recommendations only got 24 years, a 6-year difference on average. Men who were currently heavy smokers, and men and women with obesity, had the lowest life expectancy free of disease.
Women at age 50 who incorporated four or five of the healthy habits got about 34 more years free of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Women who did not practice the healthy habits only got 24 years disease-free, a difference of 10 years.
Other important lifestyle considerations related to long term health included: healthy social engagements, brain stimulation exercises or interests, good sleep habits, having a purpose or meaning in life, and intermittent fasting.
Sensory Changes With Aging Affect How We Eat
Seniors gradually develop a reduced sense of taste and smell. The sensation of crunching food in the mouth can diminish. Up to 60% of adults 70 years and older may lose their sense of taste.4
Other factors that may reduce your food satisfaction include:
- prescription drugs that reduce taste sensitivity and promote dry mouth or lack of saliva
- deficiencies in micronutrients such as zinc that reduce taste
- poor dental health with tooth loss or dentures, leading to chewing problems. 5
You can improve food satisfaction by adding tasty herbs and spices when cooking. Savory ingredients such as mushrooms, tomatoes, some cheeses, and nutritional yeast boost richness and flavor. A variety of textures, aromas, and colors in a meal may stimulate an increased desire to eat. 6
Diet and Vision Health
The Natural Eye Care blog covers the effects of a healthy diet, exercise, and targeted supplements for helping to maintain healthy vision and brain function. Our blog posts help you significantly reduce your risk of eye and brain disease. Eye disease patients and their health care providers can use the blog as a resource when developing treatment strategies.
We recommend our Vision Diet, which is a variation on the popular Mediterranean Diet.
Juicing is an excellent way to boost your vitamin intake. See our Juicing Recipes.
Suggested Supplements
Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula (whole food) 60 vcaps
Dr. Grossman’s Meso Plus Retinal Support and Computer Eye Strain Formula with Astaxanthin 90 vcaps
Dr. Grossman’s Advanced Eye and Dr. G’s Whole Food Superfood Multi1 20 Vcap Combo – 2 months supply
ReVision Formula (wild-crafted herbal formula) 2 oz – based on classic Chinese medicine Liver tonic formula to help support healthy circulation and blood flow throughout the eyes and body.
Dr. Grossman’s Bilberry/Ginkgo Combination 2oz (60ml)
H2 Elite Molecular Hydrogen 60 tabs
NMN Wonderfeel Capsul 60 vegcaps
Recommended Books
Natural Eye Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision and Healing
Natural Parkinson’s Support: Your Guide to Preventing and Managing Parkinson’s
- Mullee A, Romaguera D, Pearson-Stuttard J, et al. Association Between Soft Drink Consumption and Mortality in 10 European Countries. JAMA Intern Med. 2019;179(11):1479–1490. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.2478 ↩
- Life expectancy can increase by up to 10 years following sustained shifts towards healthier diets in the United Kingdom Lars T. Fadnes, Carlos Celis-Morales, Jan-Magnus Økland, Solange Parra-Soto, Katherine M. Livingstone, Frederick K. Ho, Jill P. Pell, Rajiv Balakrishna, Elaheh Javadi Arjmand, Kjell Arne Johansson, Øystein A. Haaland & John C. Mathers Nature Food volume 4, pages 961–965 (2023) ↩
- https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-longevity/ ↩
- Correia C, Lopez KJ, Wroblewski KE, Huisingh-Scheetz M, Kern DW, Chen RC, Schumm LP, Dale W, McClintock MK, Pinto JM. Global sensory impairment in older adults in the United States. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2016 Feb;64(2):306-13. ↩
- Pisano M, Hilas O. Zinc and taste disturbances in older adults: a review of the literature. The Consultant Pharmacist. 2016 May 1;31(5):267-70. ↩
- Rolls BJ. Do chemosensory changes influence food intake in the elderly?. Physiology & behavior.1999 Apr 1;66(2):193-7. ↩
