Aging & Eating

People can age biologically faster or slower than they age chronologically. Biological aging can be measured using epigenetic clocks, which are computational models that assess health and lifespan, and predict biological age.

Suboptimal eating patterns increase disease and mortality risks. Researchers examined the association between eating patterns and biological aging in young adult twins.

Researchers conducted a study on 363 pairs of twins, ages 20-25, to compare the impact of eating patterns on biological aging. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire that evaluated their typical consumption of 55 different foods. They discovered that:

• Consuming more red and processed meat, fast food, and sugary drinks, along with few fruits and vegetables, was associated with faster biological aging, while
• Consuming more fruits and vegetables, along with limited red and processed meat, fast food, and sugary drinks, was associated with slower biological aging.

Researchers conducting the study theorize that polyphenols, which are found mainly in vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, herbs, soy, tea, coffee, cocoa, and olive oil, may explain the deceleration of biological aging in the twins that ate more fruits and vegetables. ?

Takeaway: To slow biological aging, consider:

• Eating more foods that are rich in polyphenols, such as vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, herbs, soy, tea, coffee, cocoa, and olive oil, and
• Limiting red and processed meat, fast food, and sugary drinks.

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Source

Suvi Ravi, et al., Suboptimal dietary patterns are associated with accelerated biological aging in young adulthood: A study with twins - Clinical Nutrition, February 2025.

Photo: by Phil Martin