Diets with the majority of calories derived from fresh, raw vegetables appear beneficial to longevity. Green leafy vegetables and foods rich in carotenoids and vitamin C contribute to reduction in cardiovascular risk, according to the texbook "Braunwald's Heart Disease."
Increased Longevity with Diet Restriction
Scientists have studied the relationship of longevity and diet restriction for 70 years in yeast, mice, fish and primates, according to the journal "The Scientist." Dr. Andrew Dillin of The Salk Institute showed that mutating an enzyme in diet-restricted Caenorhabditis elegans worms could reduce the lifespan compared with worms with normal enzyme. Preliminary studies showed a second enzyme works with the first to produce this effect. Over-expression of the first enzyme in C. elegans worms extends lifespan by up to 20 percent longer than normal, according to the journal "Nature."
Most likely, caloric restriction causes longevity through some combination of genetic and environmental factors, with a reduced flow of nutrients into the body triggering genetic switches that lead to longer life, according to the journal "The Scientist."
Diets Benefiting Longevity
A study published in the journal "Explore" looked at the diets of 25 males and 12 females ranging from 65 to 106 years old who live in Central America, southern India, United States, or Ethiopia. They typically consume diets high in plant products and whole foods and low in animal products. The majority of their caloric intake comes from fresh, raw vegetables and their diets typically include sprouts.
Triage Theory
The triage theory states that during evolution, due to a shortage of micronutrients required for proteins to function, natural selection resulted in micronutrients binding to critical proteins. This guaranteed survival of the organism but caused damage leading to chronic diseases of aging. Natural selection favors short-term survival over long-term health.
This theory provides a rationale for a link between chronic deficiency of a micronutrient, such as one of the 40 essential minerals, vitamins, amino acids, or fatty acids, and degenerative diseases that accompany aging, like cancer, immune dysfunction, cardiovascular disease and stroke, according to the "Journal of Nucleic Acids." Triage theory predicts that optimizing intake of the 40 essential micronutrients will reduce the risk of chronic diseases associated with aging and increase lifespan.
Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease
Consumption of three or more servings per day of fruits and vegetables versus less than one per day provided a 27 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease risk, according to the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Several large studies have shown an association between nut consumption and reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Women who consumed 5 oz. of nuts per month had a 35 percent lower risk of nonfatal heart attack than those eating less than 1 oz. per month, according to "Archives of Internal Medicine," whereas men who consumed nuts at least twice per week had a 47 percent reduction in risk for sudden cardiac death, according to the "Journal of Nutrition."
References
- "Current Opinion In Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care": Nutritional Influence On Epigenetics And Effects On Longevity; Dr. MD. Niculescu; 2011
- "Secrets of Long Life"; Todd Pesek, M.D.; 2010
- "Journal of Nucleic Acids"; Prevention ofMutation, Cancer, and Other Age-Associated Diseases by Optimizing Micronutrient Intake; Dr. Bruce N. Ames; 2010
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in US Adults: The First National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-up Study; Dr. LA. Bazzano; 2002.
- "Journal of Nutrition"; The Scientific Evidence for a Beneficial Health Relationship Between Walnuts and Coronary Heart Disease; Dr. EB. Feldman; 2002
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Nut Consumption and Decreased Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in the Physician's Health Study; Dr. CM. Albert; 2002
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