Longevity diet: How changing what you eat could add decades to your life

I’ve seen my future and it’s full of beans, both literally and metaphorically. In addition to increasing the number of beans, eating a lot of vegetables, no meat, chronic hunger, and almost no alcohol. But in return for this dietary discipline, my future will also become more sustainable and vibrant. I am 52 years old, and with my current eating habits, I expect to live another 29 years. But if I change now, I can live ten more years and live well into my nineties.

This “longevity diet” isn’t just the latest fad, it’s the product of a lifetime of scientific research. It’s not just about preventing disease, but actually slowing down the aging process – that’s what it claims, anyway.

Of course, it stands to reason that our diet can change our lifespan. Worldwide, millions of people still die prematurely every year from a lack of calories and nutrients. At the same time, it is estimated 11 million people die every year from eating too many calories and incorrect nutritional content. Ridiculing more than we need inevitably leads to obesity and its bearers, cardiovascular diseasediabetes and cancer. The typical Western diet is also high in sugars, refined starches, and saturated fats and low in whole foods, which adds insult to injury by disrupting metabolism. This includes the excessive release of insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar levels and has a direct impact on aging. Arguably, the Western diet does not push the longevity lever in the right direction. But is it really possible to eat yourself into your later grave?