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How much of a difference does diet make to lifespan?

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#1 ta5

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Posted 02 March 2019 - 11:56 PM


I recall a thread or post a long time ago about how much of a difference diet makes to lifespan, statistically. I remember being surprised at how small the difference was. I thought it was about humans, not animals. Googling, I can't find what I thought I read. Maybe it was a different forum. Maybe it was a dream. Anyway...

 
Does anyone know what I might be thinking of?
 
Or, how much of a difference in terms of added life time do you think the best diet can make compared to the average diet for the average person? Diet can make a huge difference to an individual with particular health issues, but that's not what I'm wondering. We could just compare the lifespan of different countries, but that would have many confounding factors. 
 
Because, I see so many people getting so worked up about about their favorite diet like they are going to live forever, or to 120, and the rest of us poor stupid fools are going to die on schedule around 80 or so if we are lucky. I always wonder, even if they are right, and their diet is much healthier than average, how much of a difference can they realistically expect, when the difference is only picking different foods or macronutrient ratios, and not a scientific breakthrough? 


#2 Oakman

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Posted 03 March 2019 - 02:14 PM

Seems like lots of answers, duno...?

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=How+much+of+a+difference+does+diet+make+to+lifespan%3F&rlz=1C1OPRA_enUS570US570&oq=How+much+of+a+difference+does+diet+make+to+lifespan%3F&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8


Edited by Oakman, 03 March 2019 - 02:17 PM.

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#3 Darryl

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Posted 03 March 2019 - 03:53 PM

From Adventist studies (where there are fewer differences in smoking and conviviality), maybe 4-5 years for vegetarian diet + regular nut consumption. To achieve more would probably require conscious methionine restriction and for those with more willpower, caloric restriction. I anticipate the maximum gain for dietary interventions in humans probably is around 15 years in median lifespan.

 

That said, there are no obese/overweight supercentenarians, and nearly all who live long enough to be newsworthy had some extended period of dietary restriction in their lives. 


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#4 misterE

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Posted 06 March 2019 - 07:49 PM

Okinawans eating a diet of 90% carbohydrates from sweet-potato and a very low-fat/low-protein diet live up to 120 years old and remain mentally healthy and physically agile. 


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#5 diservizio

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Posted 06 March 2019 - 10:43 PM

I've found this video, but it's about a general lifestile behaviour to enhance lifespan, not just nutrition.


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#6 ta5

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Posted 09 March 2019 - 03:39 AM

Thanks Darryl.

 

Dr. Greger's video was fine, but the quote was "The mortality risk for those with four compared to zero health behaviours was ... 14 [years]". So, it wasn't just about diet. Also, I'm personally interested in comparing to the average. The same goes for misterE's comment "up to 120 years".

 

I think I finally found the thread I was thinking of. Especially this post by Brett Black [emphasis mine]:

 

No you misunderstand. The best diets in current studies generally hover around 0.7 relative all-cause mortality, which is equivalent to 4 years of extra life for the average human. So, four years of extra life for "muesli chewing", not 15 years.

 
15 years of extra lifespan is the prediction only if all major age-related diseases are completely eradicated. I have never seen any study claiming that any diet comes anywhere near close to achieving that feat. 
 

That pretty much agrees with Darryl.

 

 

 


Edited by ta5, 09 March 2019 - 04:11 AM.


#7 Leon93

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Posted 10 May 2019 - 12:27 PM

I think I saw a post sometime where it was claimed that a few extra particular supplements (cheap, available ones) can extend life span by even more years. I'm mainly talking about glucosamine, niacin, vitamin D, possible carninutrients, glycine, andrographis. There are a few more.

Also, what isnt mentioned here is that the diets of the former Okinawas and Vegan Adventists weren't perfect - there are more tweeks you can utilize to lengthen lifespan even more, like high(er) antioxidants diets (hibiscus tea, cloves, turmeric, amla, broccoli seeds, other spices, blend fruits into smoothies, more green leafies, sprouting grains and legumes) and more resistance training & especially more cardio.

Edited by Leon93, 10 May 2019 - 12:29 PM.


#8 Mind

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Posted 10 May 2019 - 04:32 PM

Reason as casually mentioned may times that diet hacks can extend human lifespan just a "few years". Not a panacea for humans, but beneficial.


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#9 diservizio

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Posted 27 May 2019 - 08:26 PM

Just discovered Dr. Aubrey de Grey's opinion

Here the source of my discovery.

I hope it's ok to post those links...

 

 


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#10 Leon93

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Posted 03 June 2019 - 05:51 PM

@diservizio, Aubrey said the difference between Japan and the US is only about 4 years, which is correct. But he didn't mention that the diet quality of Japan has dropped. The Okinawas f.e. lived to 100 if I am not mistaken, but they now have shorter lives of multiple years 'thanks' to the implementation of more western diets.

Edited by Leon93, 03 June 2019 - 05:51 PM.


#11 Oakman

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Posted 03 June 2019 - 10:01 PM

Perhaps this 'law' has a positive effect on the Japanese lifespan?

"In January 2008, Japan passed the “Metabo Law” in an effort to curb obesity in that country. While the law does require men and women between the ages of 45 and 74 to have their waistlines examined once a year and potentially seek medical treatment if their measurements fall outside established ranges, it did not establish obesity as a criminal offense.

The Metabo Law was named after metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions, including high blood pressure and excess body fat, that can increase the risk of serious medical ailments:"

"The New York Times reported in 2008 the Metabo Law affects men with waistlines larger than 35.4 inches and women with waistlines larger than 31.5 inches. People exceeding these governmental limits, which are identical to the measurements established by the International Diabetes Federation in 2006, may be required to go to counseling sessions or converse with a health expert about dietary options. Unlike individuals, however, companies and local governments can be assessed financial penalties if the citizens in their charge do not meet government standards:"


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#12 HaloTeK

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Posted 11 July 2019 - 05:06 PM

I think some of this is just nonsense... If one is a healthy weight, and doesn't have genetic issues, you will probably gain 1-2 years from a healthy diet... Now, if you are overweight, or eat badly, you run the risk of an early disease (like cancer/heart disease/other issues) that could cut more than a few years from your life... So even if you don't gain a lot of years at the end of your life from a great diet, you increase your health span significantly.

 

Aaron


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