The Study
Estimating impact of food choices on life expectancy: A modeling study
This study didn't test diets on real people—it used math to guess what might happen if people changed what they eat, based on other studies that watched people over time. So it can tell us what might be linked to living longer, but not that eating more nuts will definitely make you live longer.
Analysis score
Maximum 0 for a computational/algorithm study.
Where the score came from
Scientists built a calculator that guesses how much longer you might live if you eat more beans, whole grains, and nuts, and less bacon and soda.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 50 / 100
Quality score
Based on clinical experience or non-systematic literature reviews. The lowest level of evidence as they are most susceptible to bias and personal perspective.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — gaining over a decade of life from diet changes is huge, like adding a whole extra adult lifetime, especially if you start young.
- 2If you start eating better at age 20, you might live 10–13 more years.
- 3Eating more beans adds about 2 years, whole grains 2 years, nuts 1.7–2 years, and cutting red/processed meat each adds 1.6–1.9 years.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
PLoS Medicine
Year
2022
Authors
L. Fadnes, Jan-Magnus Økland, Ø. Haaland, K. Johansson
Related Content
Claims (5)
Consumption of legumes improves glycemic control and supports gut microbiota through fiber and resistant starch.
Eating legumes leads to better blood sugar regulation and improved gut health due to their fiber and resistant starch content.
People who eat more plant-based foods, unsaturated fats, and legumes have a higher likelihood of aging healthily compared to those who do not.
In humans, higher intake of plant-based and fish proteins is associated with reduced all-cause mortality, and protein restriction does not reliably extend lifespan.
High intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and unsaturated fats is associated with increased odds of healthy aging to age 70, while high intake of trans fats, sodium, sugary beverages, and red/processed meats is associated with decreased odds.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.