Latest news with #ArdissonKorat
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Eating these carbs can help boost healthy aging, according to a 30-year study
Time and time again, nutrition experts and dietitians praise the health benefits of eating a high-fiber diet, but 95% of Americans are fiber-deficient, missing out on its numerous perks. Eating a diet full of fiber-rich foods—like whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables—can help lower your cancer risk and cardiovascular disease, and improve your gut health. Now a new study, published in JAMA Network Open, links fiber and high-quality carbs in particular to healthy aging. The study found that older women who had a high intake of fiber and high-quality carbohydrates—defined as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes—in midlife experienced healthier aging. Women who ate those carbs had a 6% to 37% greater likelihood of healthy aging. Meanwhile, those who ate more refined carbs—found in added sugars, refined grains, and potatoes—and starchy vegetables had 13% lower odds of healthy aging. The authors defined healthy aging as the absence of 11 major chronic diseases (including cancer, Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]), lack of cognitive and physical function impairments, and having good mental health, as self-reported in questionnaires. 'Our findings suggest that carbohydrate quality may be an important factor in healthy aging,' said Andres Ardisson Korat, a scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) and lead author of the study in the press release. Researchers from the HNRCA at Tufts University and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data from the Nurses' Health Study questionnaires, which were collected every four years between 1984 and 2016 to examine the midlife diets and health outcomes of over 47,000 women who were between ages 70 and 93 in 2016. 'We've all heard that different carbohydrates can affect health differently, whether for weight, energy, or blood sugar levels. But rather than just look at the immediate effects of these macronutrients, we wanted to understand what they might mean for good health 30 years later,' Ardisson Korat said. 'Our results are consistent with other evidence linking consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes with lower risks of chronic diseases, and now we see the association with physical and cognitive function outcomes,' said senior author Qi Sun, associate professor in the nutrition and epidemiology departments at Harvard Chan School, in the press release. 'Studies are starting to find an association between food choices in midlife and quality of life in later years,' Ardisson Korat added. 'The more we can understand about healthy aging, the more science can help people live healthier for longer.' The study centered on diet and not fiber supplements—and dietitians generally recommend getting your fiber from whole foods. Legumes, nuts and seeds, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are the most high-fiber food groups. Here are some specific dietitian-recommended options for adding more fiber to your diet: Beans Lentils Fresh fruits like strawberries, oranges, blueberries, apples, and pears with skin Fresh vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green peas, and potatoes with skin Popcorn Avocados Oatmeal Barley Split peas Chia seeds For more on fiber and carbs: Eating just 7 grams more fiber every day can cut your stroke risk and boost your overall health. Here are simple ways to get more into your diet The secret trick to turning carbohydrates like white rice and bread into superfoods You might be overdoing it on protein and not getting enough of another vital nutrient, dietitians say This story was originally featured on
NBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- NBC News
The key to healthy aging? Eating a variety of these kinds of carbs
Women who eat more fiber and high-quality carbohydrates in midlife are more likely to be cognitively and physically healthy in their old age, a large new study suggests. While there's a lot of evidence showing how diet affects longevity and the risk for chronic diseases, the new study focused on how what we eat influences quality of life as we age, according to the report published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, analyzed diet data from 47,512 women who were participants of the long-running Nurses' Health Study, one of the most respected and largest investigations into causes of chronic diseases in women. Every four years, between 1984 and 2016, the participants filled out a questionnaire that asked how frequently 130 foods had been consumed over the past year. The options ranged from never to six times a day. The researchers centered on dietary data collected in 1984 and 1986, as this was when the women were at midlife. 'The primary high-quality carbohydrates were whole grains, whole fruits and vegetables and legumes,' scientist Andres Ardisson Korat, lead author of the new research, said. 'The reason is they have a lot of fiber and a lot more resistant forms of starches that break down more slowly in our bodies. Low quality carbohydrates included refined grains and added sugars.' Resistant forms of starch, such as beans and legumes and whole grain, don't cause blood glucose levels to spike, plus they increase the feeling of fullness and are high in fiber. The researchers defined healthy aging as surviving to age 70 while being free of 11 major chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, stroke, arthritis and osteoporosis; having no impairment in memory or physical function; and being in good mental health. The dietary analysis revealed a 31% greater likelihood of healthy aging among women who ate high-quality carbs, while a diet heavy in low-quality carbs was associated with a 13% lower likelihood of healthy aging. Ardisson Korat said healthy aging is someone with a positive score in four areas: No major chronic disease. Good physical health. Good cognitive function. Good mental health. 'A person with good physical health, for example, would be able to lift and carry groceries, climb a flight of stairs and walk a certain distance,' Ardisson Korat said. Among the participants in the new study, only 3,706 reached age 70 free of chronic diseases. Ardisson Korat was surprised that so few women accomplished it, but noted a 2024 Tufts study on women's consumption of protein showed similar findings. In Ardisson Korat's protein research, women who ate more plant proteins were 46% more likely to be healthy into their later years, while women who ate more animal protein, such as beef, chicken, milk, fish and cheese were 6% less likely to stay healthy as they aged. A limitation of the new study is that it didn't explore how high-quality carbohydrates could lead to a healthier old age. Also, the participants in the Nurses Health Study are mostly white women and the findings may not be representative of the broader population. It's significant, however, because the researchers looked at how diet can have an impact on overall healthy aging, experts said. Brooke Aggarwal, an associate professor of medical sciences in the division of cardiology at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, said the researchers focused on a really critical period in women's lives to suggest intervention. 'This shows with better attention to diet we might have a good quality of life: Can someone think clearly? Can they physically function well? Can they get in and out of bed by themselves,' Aggarwal said. Other studies have shown that diets high in fiber can have a positive impact on outcomes, such as diabetes and other chronic diseases, said Dr. Gül Bahtiyar, chief of the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at NYC Health+Hospitals/Woodhull. But a strength of the study is that it is 'huge,' said Bahtiyar, who was not involved in the research. Heidi Silver, director of the Vanderbilt Diet, Body Composition, and Human Metabolism Core at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the data in the new study showed that fruit was especially good for healthy aging. 'Fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals,' said Silver, who was not involved in the research. 'There's such as wide range of micro nutrients in them. You don't get that from a lot of the other food groups.' If people want to eat healthier, what would Silver suggest? 'I would recommend eating a variety of fruits,' she said. 'But they should at least eat two pieces of fruit a day.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A key to healthy aging? New study says you should load up on these kinds of carbs.
Women who eat more fiber and high-quality carbohydrates in midlife are more likely to be cognitively and physically healthy in their old age, a large new study suggests. While there's a lot of evidence showing how diet affects longevity and the risk for chronic diseases, the new study focused on how what we eat influences quality of life as we age, according to the report published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, analyzed diet data from 47,512 women who were participants of the long-running Nurses' Health Study, one of the most respected and largest investigations into causes of chronic diseases in women. Every four years, between 1984 and 2016, the participants filled out a questionnaire that asked how frequently 130 foods had been consumed over the past year. The options ranged from never to six times a day. The researchers centered on dietary data collected in 1984 and 1986, as this was when the women were at midlife. 'The primary high-quality carbohydrates were whole grains, whole fruits and vegetables and legumes,' scientist Andres Ardisson Korat, lead author of the new research, said. 'The reason is they have a lot of fiber and a lot more resistant forms of starches that break down more slowly in our bodies. Low quality carbohydrates included refined grains and added sugars.' Resistant forms of starch, such as beans and legumes and whole grain, don't cause blood glucose levels to spike, plus they increase the feeling of fullness and are high in fiber. The researchers defined healthy aging as surviving to age 70 while being free of 11 major chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, stroke, arthritis and osteoporosis; having no impairment in memory or physical function; and being in good mental health. The dietary analysis revealed a 31% greater likelihood of healthy aging among women who ate high-quality carbs, while a diet heavy in low-quality carbs was associated with a 13% lower likelihood of healthy aging. Ardisson Korat said healthy aging is someone with a positive score in four areas: No major chronic disease. Good physical health. Good cognitive function. Good mental health. 'A person with good physical health, for example, would be able to lift and carry groceries, climb a flight of stairs and walk a certain distance,' Ardisson Korat said. Among the participants in the new study, only 3,706 reached age 70 free of chronic diseases. Ardisson Korat was surprised that so few women accomplished it, but noted a 2024 Tufts study on women's consumption of protein showed similar findings. In Ardisson Korat's protein research, women who ate more plant proteins were 46% more likely to be healthy into their later years, while women who ate more animal protein, such as beef, chicken, milk, fish and cheese were 6% less likely to stay healthy as they aged. A limitation of the new study is that it didn't explore how high-quality carbohydrates could lead to a healthier old age. Also, the participants in the Nurses Health Study are mostly white women and the findings may not be representative of the broader population. It's significant, however, because the researchers looked at how diet can have an impact on overall healthy aging, experts said. Brooke Aggarwal, an associate professor of medical sciences in the division of cardiology at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, said the researchers focused on a really critical period in women's lives to suggest intervention. 'This shows with better attention to diet we might have a good quality of life: Can someone think clearly? Can they physically function well? Can they get in and out of bed by themselves,' Aggarwal said. Other studies have shown that diets high in fiber can have a positive impact on outcomes, such as diabetes and other chronic diseases, said Dr. Gül Bahtiyar, chief of the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at NYC Health+Hospitals/Woodhull. But a strength of the study is that it is 'huge,' said Bahtiyar, who was not involved in the research. Heidi Silver, director of the Vanderbilt Diet, Body Composition, and Human Metabolism Core at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the data in the new study showed that fruit was especially good for healthy aging. 'Fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals,' said Silver, who was not involved in the research. 'There's such as wide range of micro nutrients in them. You don't get that from a lot of the other food groups.' If people want to eat healthier, what would Silver suggest? 'I would recommend eating a variety of fruits,' she said. 'But they should at least eat two pieces of fruit a day.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- NBC News
The key to healthy aging? Eating a variety of these kinds of carbs.
Women who eat more fiber and high-quality carbohydrates in midlife are more likely to be cognitively and physically healthy in their old age, a large new study suggests. While there's a lot of evidence showing how diet affects longevity and the risk for chronic diseases, the new study focused on how what we eat influences quality of life as we age, according to the report published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, analyzed diet data from 47,512 women who were participants of the long-running Nurses' Health Study, one of the most respected and largest investigations into causes of chronic diseases in women. Every four years, between 1984 and 2016, the participants filled out a questionnaire that asked how frequently 130 foods had been consumed over the past year. The options ranged from never to six times a day. The researchers centered on dietary data collected in 1984 and 1986, as this was when the women were at midlife. 'The primary high-quality carbohydrates were whole grains, whole fruits and vegetables and legumes,' scientist Andres Ardisson Korat, lead author of the new research, said. 'The reason is they have a lot of fiber and a lot more resistant forms of starches that break down more slowly in our bodies. Low quality carbohydrates included refined grains and added sugars.' Resistant forms of starch, such as beans and legumes and whole grain, don't cause blood glucose levels to spike, plus they increase the feeling of fullness and are high in fiber. The researchers defined healthy aging as surviving to age 70 while being free of 11 major chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, stroke, arthritis and osteoporosis; having no impairment in memory or physical function; and being in good mental health. The dietary analysis revealed a 31% greater likelihood of healthy aging among women who ate high-quality carbs, while a diet heavy in low-quality carbs was associated with a 13% lower likelihood of healthy aging. Ardisson Korat said healthy aging is someone with a positive score in four areas: No major chronic disease. Good physical health. Good cognitive function. Good mental health. 'A person with good physical health, for example, would be able to lift and carry groceries, climb a flight of stairs and walk a certain distance,' Ardisson Korat said. Among the participants in the new study, only 3,706 reached age 70 free of chronic diseases. Ardisson Korat was surprised that so few women accomplished it, but noted a 2024 Tufts study on women's consumption of protein showed similar findings. In Ardisson Korat's protein research, women who ate more plant proteins were 46% more likely to be healthy into their later years, while women who ate more animal protein, such as beef, chicken, milk, fish and cheese were 6% less likely to stay healthy as they aged. A limitation of the new study is that it didn't explore how high-quality carbohydrates could lead to a healthier old age. Also, the participants in the Nurses Health Study are mostly white women and the findings may not be representative of the broader population. It's significant, however, because the researchers looked at how diet can have an impact on overall healthy aging, experts said. Brooke Aggarwal, an associate professor of medical sciences in the division of cardiology at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, said the researchers focused on a really critical period in women's lives to suggest intervention. 'This shows with better attention to diet we might have a good quality of life: Can someone think clearly? Can they physically function well? Can they get in and out of bed by themselves,' Aggarwal said. Other studies have shown that diets high in fiber can have a positive impact on outcomes, such as diabetes and other chronic diseases, said Dr. Gül Bahtiyar, chief of the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at NYC Health+Hospitals/Woodhull. But a strength of the study is that it is 'huge,' said Bahtiyar, who was not involved in the research. Heidi Silver, director of the Vanderbilt Diet, Body Composition, and Human Metabolism Core at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the data in the new study showed that fruit was especially good for healthy aging. 'Fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals,' said Silver, who was not involved in the research. 'There's such as wide range of micro nutrients in them. You don't get that from a lot of the other food groups.' If people want to eat healthier, what would Silver suggest?
16-05-2025
- Health
Women who eat the 'right' carbs in midlife are more likely to age in good health
Women who eat mostly unprocessed carbs -- like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fiber -- and avoid refined carbohydrates in midlife may be more likely to reach age 70 in good health, according to a new study. The study, published Friday in JAMA Network Open, spanned more than 30 years and followed over 47,000 women who completed detailed food and health questionnaires every two years. Researchers used these responses to track diet patterns and assess healthy aging outcomes later in life. Healthy aging meant reaching age 70 without a diagnosis for any of 11 major chronic diseases. It also meant no memory loss, mental health problems or physical limitations. "Dietary fiber and high-quality carbohydrates are really good at preventing chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some forms of cancer," Andres Ardisson Korat, the study's lead author and a scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, told ABC News. "But the novel finding of our paper is that it really affects all aspects of healthy aging." High-quality carbohydrates are minimally processed, nutrient-dense and come from natural sources that are low in added sugars, Ardisson Korat explained. Simple or refined carbs are often referred to as "bad carbs." They include highly processed foods that are often high in sugar and stripped of all fiber and nutrients such as white bread, pastries, chips and junk food. Women in the study who regularly ate high-quality carbohydrates were 30% more likely to maintain their physical abilities and mental sharpness as they aged. Swapping out fat, animal protein and refined carbs -- such as white rice and sugary cereals -- for whole grains, fruits and vegetables offered even greater protection against disease and decline. The study didn't prove that "good" carbs directly cause healthy aging, only that they are associated with better health for the women as they entered their golden years. But the researchers did take into account other key factors like exercise, weight, smoking, and overall diet. The study also isn't without limitations. Most participants were well-educated nurses who tended to eat more high-quality carbohydrates than the average U.S. adult, which may make the findings harder to apply to the general population. Both the diet data and health outcomes are more than a decade old, so the study doesn't reflect more recent trends in eating habits or advances in detecting age-related conditions -- an area future research could explore. But in a time of growing consumption of processed foods, Ardisson Korat said that this study emphasized the importance of eating the "right" carbs for a longer, healthier life. "Seeking out the consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains really goes a long way in terms of improving carbohydrate quality," he said. "This is helpful for not only the chronic disease component but all components of being a healthy, older adult."
