Scientists have identified the best diet to increase longevity, Report informs referring to the Science and Technology Daily portal.
Chinese experts have analyzed data from 26 different medical studies of dietary habits, which involved about 1.9 million people from 29 countries and regions in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
As it turns out, consuming about five servings of fruits and vegetables daily is associated with the lowest risk of death. Participants who ate five servings of fruits and vegetables a day had the longest life expectancy, a 13 percent lower risk of dying from various causes, and their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases decreased by 12, 10, and 35 percent, respectively.
The researchers warned that not all fruits and vegetables are equally beneficial for the body. Thus, the consumption of starchy vegetables, such as peas, corn, potatoes, was not associated with a decrease in the risk of death from various causes or certain chronic diseases. The most beneficial were green leafy vegetables, as well as fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, berries, and carrots.