A new scientific study shows that young people who eat poorly can age faster. A study from Finland that looked at twins found that bad eating habits are tied to biological aging happening faster.
There is a link between what people eat in their early 20s and how fast their bodies age over time.
The Study and Its Findings
The study, which was published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, looked at data from the long-term FinnTwin12 study on twins.
Scientists looked at what 826 young people aged 21 to 25 ate and how their bodies aged. The research used epigenetic clocks, which are high-tech ways to check how old cells are.
The researchers identified six different eating patterns among participants:
- High fast food, low fruits and vegetables – Diets rich in processed foods, sugary drinks, and red meat but low in fruits and vegetables.
- Plant-based – Diets mostly consisting of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and plant-based foods.
- Health-conscious – Diets with low-fat dairy, lean meat, and plenty of vegetables and whole grains.
- Western with infrequent fish – Diets high in processed meats and unhealthy fats but low in fish and vegetables.
- Western with regular fish – Similar to the Western diet but with more fish consumption.
- Balanced average – A diet that includes a mix of various food groups with moderate portions.
The study found that people who ate a lot of fast food, red meat, and sugary drinks aged faster than people who ate mostly plants, were health-conscious, or ate a healthy diet.
How Diet Affects Aging
Two advanced epigenetic clocks, GrimAge and DunedinPACE, were used to measure biological aging. These tools look at changes in a person’s DNA to figure out how old they are biologically compared to how old they really are.
The results showed that:
- People who ate a high-fast-food diet aged faster than those who ate a more balanced diet.
- The plant-based and health-conscious diets were linked to slower aging.
- A Western diet with infrequent fish also led to faster aging.
- When BMI (Body Mass Index) and physical activity were considered, diet still played a key role in aging.
Genetics vs. Lifestyle Choices
The study also looked at whether genetics affected the link between food and getting older. Scientists found that genes played a part by comparing monozygotic (twins that share all of their genes) and dizygotic (twins that share about half of their genes).
But choices about diet and other parts of living had a big effect on getting older, even in identical twins.
This study shows how important it is to start eating better foods early in life. To slow down the aging process, eat a balanced diet full of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins.
This is because aging starts in the cells long before any signs show up.
In The End
The results of this study make it clear that what people eat has a big impact on how quickly they age. Making small but important changes to your food can improve your health and lengthen your life.
The message is clear for young adults: eating healthy foods now can help your body stay healthy and young in the future.