There is more than one way to eat well for healthy aging.
The traditional Japanese diet provides a good example.
It commonly includes vegetables, fish and other seafood, soy foods, rice, fruit, seaweed, mushrooms and green tea. Red meat is generally eaten in smaller amounts.
Together, these foods provide protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and many naturally occurring plant compounds.
Large long-term studies in Japan have found that people who follow this type of dietary pattern more closely tend to have lower overall and cardiovascular mortality.
That does not mean every part of a traditional Japanese diet is equally beneficial.
One important concern is salt. Traditional foods such as pickles, salted seafood, miso and some seasonings can contribute substantial amounts of sodium.
A modern healthy Japanese diet can therefore preserve many of its traditional foods while reducing excessive salt.
The broader lesson is useful wherever you live.
You do not need to follow one specific named diet to eat for healthy aging. Different cultures can build nutritious diets from different combinations of foods.
