Living longer is only part of healthy aging.
How well we age matters too.
That means maintaining physical function and staying mentally and cognitively healthy. It also means reducing the risk of chronic diseases that can affect independence and quality of life.
Nutrition can play an important role in all of these areas.
Long-term research shows that healthier eating patterns are associated with a greater chance of reaching older age in good overall health.
The strongest patterns have many foods in common.
They include plenty of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, nuts and legumes. They also favor healthy unsaturated fats, found in foods such as olive oil, nuts, seeds and fish.
These foods provide much more than calories.
They supply fiber, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and natural plant compounds that support different systems throughout the body.
But healthy aging is not determined by one food or one meal.
What matters is the pattern we build over time.
Eating well consistently can support cardiovascular and metabolic health. It can also contribute to maintaining physical function, cognitive health and mental well-being as we age.
This is why nutrition is an important part of prevention.
We do not need to wait for high blood pressure, diabetes or another chronic disease before thinking seriously about what we eat.
Healthy food choices made today can help create better conditions for health in the years ahead.
The aim is not simply to add years to life.
It is to support more years in good health.
