Beyond just protecting your heart and keeping you agile[1] , the Mediterranean Diet could be the key to living a longer[2] -- and not just healthier -- life, a new study suggests.


Researchers analyzed data taken from 10,670 women in their late 50s and early 60s and found that women with healthier diets were more likely to live disease-free to 70 and beyond. The data was collected as part of the Nurses' Health Study[3] , one of the longest-running studies on women's health and aging.


Women with healthy, balanced diets[4] were 34 percent more likely to age healthily, while those following the Mediterranean Diet were 46 percent more likely. Healthy dieters[5] consumed more whole grains and less alcohol and red meat. The Mediterranean Diet[6] similarly limits red meat and is rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.


The healthy agers lived to 70 without having major chronic diseases, cognitive impairments, physical impairments, and mental health issues. Each participant's overall health was recorded in the mid 1980s[7] and again 15 years later.


"Better diet quality at midlife seems to be strongly linked to greater health and well-being in persons surviving to older ages," researchers concluded.


While the study didn't look at what makes the Mediterranean Diet so good for you, researchers believe it may be because the diet helps lower inflammation, AARP reported.[8] Recent research has discovered that inflammation may be the primary cause of aging[9] and several age-related diseases.


"These data may have an especially important role in promoting a healthy diet—maintaining physical, cognitive, and mental health with aging may provide a more powerful incentive for dietary change than simply prolonging life or avoiding any single chronic disease," researchers wrote[10] .





Earlier on HuffPost50:




Loading Slideshow...



  • Asparagus


    Asparagus is anti-inflammatory and provides digestive support, according to "The Longevity Kitchen," a book that explains the life-extending benefits of healthy foods.




  • Avocado


    In addition to helping lower levels of bad cholesterol, avocados destroy cancerous and precancerous cells, according to "The Longevity Kitchen."




  • Basil


    This anti-inflammatory herb has been shown to "slow the growth of disease-causing bacteria" and protect liver cells, according to "The Longevity Kitchen."




  • Blueberries


    This superfruit is anti-inflammatory and helps improves brain and heart health, wrote Rebecca Katz and Mat Edelson in "The Longevity Kitchen."




  • Coffee


    Drinking more than <a href="http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/340733/description/Coffee_gives_jolt_to_life_span">two cups a day of coffee</a> may help you live longer by offering protection against respiratory problems and heart disease.




  • Dark Chocolate


    This treat can reduce your blood pressure and improve your heart health. Not surprisingly, studies also show dark chocolate to be a mood enhancer, according to "The Longevity Kitchen."




  • Garlic


    Garlic may not be good for your breath, but it does help prevent damage to blood vessels, wrote the authors of "The Longevity Kitchen."




  • Green Tea


    According to "The Longevity Kitchen,"green tea has several major health benefits. The antioxidant found in green tea is useful in treating breast, lung and prostate cancer. Green tea also prevents bad cholesterol from forming and can help you lose weight by suppressing your appetite.




  • Kale


    "[Kale] goes way off the charts with certain nutrients, providing more than <em>ten times</em> the recommended daily intake of vitamin K, a key regulator of inflammation, and three times the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, which is vital to eye health and maintaining moisture in the skin and mucous membranes," according to "The Longevity Kitchen." Kale can also reduce your cholesterol, and is associated with reduced risk of ovarian, breast and colon cancer.




  • Olive Oil


    Olive oil has several major health benefits: it helps protect the heart, reduces the risk of respiratory, colon, upper GI track and breast cancer, and helps prevent stroke, according to "The Longevity Kitchen."




  • Pomegranate


    In addition to being anti-inflammatory, pomegranate is good for your cardiovascular health and helps lower blood pressure, wrote the authors of "The Longevity Kitchen."




  • Sweet Potato


    As stated in "The Longevity Kitchen," this tasty tuber helps regulate blood pressure, provides support for your immune system and contains nutrients that help reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.




  • Thyme


    This fragrant spice helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and also helps neutralize common pathogens such as E. Coli, according to "The Longevity Kitchen."




  • Walnuts


    "Wanuts offer tremendous heart health benefits," the book's authors write. "They reduce inflammation, bad cholesterol (LDL), and risk of blood clots and can help prevent bone loss."




  • Wild Salmon


    Salmon contins more healthful omega-3 fatty acids than any other fish. Omega-3 fatty acids decrease inflammation throughout the body and may reduce the risk of macular degeneration, which causes blindness.




  • Yogurt


    As stated in "The Longevity Kitchen," yogurt helps maintain and restore healthy bacteria in our body and fights against conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea and Crohn's disease.




  • 'The Longevity Kitchen'


    "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Longevity-Kitchen-Satisfying-Age-Busting/dp/1607742942">The Longevity Kitchen</a>" contains recipes designed to improve the length and quality of your life, as well as tips for living a healthier life.