Health News Update: More on Aging and Inflammation
Health News Update: More on Aging and Inflammation 6.30.25
Hello again, everyone: The last blog was pretty heavy with science, but to simplify it down to an easy application in our daily life is accomplished by going into a whole-foods, plant-based, largely unprocessed food plan. By measuring blood test markers of inflammation and immune function, they were able to show something interesting:
“Conclusion: This study provides evidence that a more healthful PBD (Plant Based Diet) is associated with a more favorable inflammatory profile and that a more unhealthful PBD is associated with the reverse.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37658860/
But does that prove that eating a healthful PBD will actually increase our healthspan and lifespan as well? While it is now proven that going plant-based, with a whole and unprocessed food plan will significantly lower inflammation, where is the proof that it results in optimal aging and the prevention or delay of age related chronic degenerative illness? I would say the definitive study to prove that has not yet been done. However, it is more than reasonable to conclude from the available data that lowering inflammation, feeding ourselves with food designed for our biology, and eating according to our natural genetically predetermined circadian clocks will advantage us to live better and longer.
“Studies have shown that what we eat may be one of the most important lifestyle modifications any one of us can make to significantly increase our healthspan and add quality years of enjoyable life as we age. The Blue Zones are five demographically confirmed, geographically defined areas around the world with the highest percentage of centenarians. These are places where people reach the age of 100 at roughly 10 times greater rates than in the United States as a whole. Interestingly, demographers and researchers found that these populations shared several key lifestyle habits, one of which was a remarkable similarity in their diets.
· Greater than 90 percent plant-based diet
· Emphasis on a wide variety of seasonal vegetables, fruits and whole grains
· Daily consumption of legumes – including beans, chickpeas and lentils – black beans , lentils and white beans, and soybeans
· Use meat only sparingly – as a small side or at a special occasion
· Avoidance of processed foods and refined sugars
· Water is the beverage of choice, with small amounts of tea, coffee or red wine in moderation
Bottom Line: “Nutrition as Prevention: These Blue Zones offer us a glimpse into what healthy aging can look like. Staying fit and healthy can help protect against the chronic diseases associated with aging that put us at increased risk for worse outcomes if we are exposed to COVID-19 (or any other virus or illness). And our first step toward healthy aging can be as simple as changing what’s on our plate.” https://www.uvmhealth.org/coronavirus/staying-healthy/life-span-vs-health-span
PS: Getting fit and healthy and thus lowering your inflammatory burden can also help you recover from any illness or overcome chronic conditions.
