Elderly people benefit from eating the so-called Mediterranean diet – with longer lives, according to findings published yesterday.
Research on 70-year-olds in Sweden has found the diet can cut the risk of dying at that age by about a fifth.
The diet that was tested included large amounts of vegetables and fish. Some versions of the Mediterranean diet include wine and olive oil, reflecting the south European lifestyle.
The researchers say three other studies are set to give similar findings. These have been undertaken in Denmark, in northern Sweden and with children.
The first piece of research has been published in the journal Age.
Researcher Gianluca Tognon said: "This means in practice that older people who eat a Mediterranean diet live an estimated two to three years longer than those who don’t.
"The conclusion we can draw from these studies is that there is no doubt that a Mediterranean diet is linked to better health, not only for the elderly but also for youngsters."
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