When it comes to the relationship between food intake and lifespan, one cannot help but mention the famous general Lian Po from ancient times. Despite his old age, he could still eat well and fight, and his health remained quite robust.
Many people believe that if an elderly person eats a lot, they might live longer. Conversely, if an elderly person can’t eat much, struggling to swallow even half a bowl of rice, it signifies a decline in their bodily absorption capability, which could indicate a downward trend in health.
However, is there really a connection between food intake and lifespan? Does eating more truly lead to a longer life?
1. The Chinese diet, mentioned twice in The Lancet, causes the highest death toll in the world and increases the risk of diabetes.
Not eating properly has a significant impact on health.
Studies published in The Lancet emphasize that unhealthy dietary habits can lead to death.
Researchers observed 195 countries globally and found that in 2017, 11 million people died due to unhealthy diets, accounting for 22% of all adult deaths.
Another shocking statistic: the mortality rate due to dietary issues in China is even higher than in the United States. Moreover, due to improper diet, China’s mortality rates for cardiovascular diseases and cancer rank first among the 20 most populous countries in the world.
People generally consider high-sugar and high-fat foods to be the unhealthiest, but in this study, the fatality rate of such foods was not the highest. In fact, issues like excessive salt intake, insufficient whole grains, and inadequate fruit consumption were more serious, leading to deaths of 3 million, 3 million, and 2 million people, respectively.
In April 2024, The Lancet once again mentioned the dietary habits of Chinese people.
Results showed that China’s dietary glycemic index is the highest, and a high glycemic index may make individuals more susceptible to diabetes.
The average dietary glycemic index across all participating countries is 85.9, while China’s is 88.9, the highest, followed by Southeast Asia at 88.2 and Africa at 88.
This tells us how important healthy eating habits are for disease prevention and extending lifespan.
Clearly, eating well and healthily is crucial; it is the key to disease prevention and prolonging life.
2. Can one deduce lifespan simply by observing eating habits?
In May 2022, scientists at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center published a study in Science: if animals ate less, their lifespan could increase by 10%; if, based on this, they chose appropriate times to eat less, their lifespan could increase by 35%!
That same year, a research team from Yale University published a study in Science. They conducted a clinical trial over two years, studying 218 healthy individuals aged 21 to 50. One group consumed 14% less food daily, approximately feeling 80% full; the other group ate normally.
The results revealed that consistently eating a bit less, to the point of feeling 80% full, not only improved psychological well-being and quality of life but also enhanced memory, reduced risks of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, aided in weight loss, and decreased bodily inflammation and oxidative stress responses, which is highly beneficial for health and longevity.
What does “80% full” really mean? It’s just a reminder, as everyone’s perception varies. Dr. Sun Xiaojun, a physician in the gastroenterology department at Nansha Hospital of Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, states that if one eats on time and feels not hungry after the first meal, they won’t feel hungry before the next meal, then that is roughly “80% full.”
However, excessive dieting is not recommended. Long-term excessive dieting can lead to severe protein deficiencies in the body, which can not only reduce muscle mass and lower immunity but also increase the risk of various chronic diseases.
3. Be alert to four abnormal signs when eating
Eating is indeed closely linked to our health. In addition to paying attention to food intake, one should also be vigilant about any unusual aspects during meals or signals from the body.
1. Hiccups
Generally, a healthy person does not hiccup after every meal and definitely shouldn’t hiccup continuously for hours.
However, if one finds themselves hiccuping non-stop after every meal, the duration…
