Eating More Of This May Lower Risk Of Death By 10%, Study Suggests

It seems there is always new data on the way our diet affects our health, and occasionally a study goes as far as to say that eating certain foods may actually improve life expectancy—which is really quite amazing, when you think of it. Research recently published in the BMJ, a peer-reviewed journal, concluded that nuts, seeds, and plant oils were linked with a lower risk of death1.

The research considered data from 41 studies, conducted between the years of 1991 and 2021—all of which observed a link between alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and risk of death. In total, the combination of studies meant this research involved around 120,000 participants between 18 and 98 years old.

ALA is a type of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid found in plants like soybeans, nuts, and flaxseed—and it's believed to be the very reason these types of foods may contribute to longevity. After considering bias and other factors in the collection of the data, they found that eating plenty of foods with ALA may contribute to a 10% lower risk of death due to all causes—specifically an 8% lower risk of death due to cardiovascular disease and an 11% lower risk of death due to coronary heart disease.

If living longer is your aim, there are some other things that longevity experts swear are key to a long life: Sergey Young has made it his personal mission to live to 200, and he shared his ultimate list of must-do's with us on the mindbodygreen podcast.