This seems like common sense. If you eat decent food, you live longer.

Either the reporting or the study is flawed. It reports on the eating habits over ten years and concludes, in effect, that eating healthy, once old, is protective.

What about the eating habits in the fifty or sixty years before the study began? Might that have had an impact?

I've been a boozer and fat eater all my life and I'm somehow protected if I begin eating better when I'm 60? Sorry guys, it just doesn't work that way. While I'm not arguing that a healthy diet isn't a good idea, I'm questioning the reported conclusion of this study/report.

But please everyone, eat healthy now. Don't wait like I did and hope for a miracle.

You can eat decent healthy food and still be a dead duck if you do not exercise, get enough sleep, don't smoke or drink heavily and are mentally a happy person. Its a complete package and just not all about food.

That's it! It's steak & beer diet for this guy. Proven scientifically to make you live longer, have a happier and less-stressful life! :P Whole grains via hopps, low fat via steak. Veggies in the form of whey & A1 sauce baby!

SHOCKING FINDINGS! Good grief we need some more intelligent articles on this site. I'm outta here.

Another BS nutritional study. So people who eat mostly meat and fried foods live just as long as the "whole grain" consumers. The researchers conclude that their increased consumption of vegetables protects them against the evils of animal fats. Where is the study to back that assumption up? Could it be that animal fats aren't actually bad for you?

We're all going to die of something.. heart disease, cancer or dementia.. unless we have one of those freakish accidents.. you know like falling into a manhole, or getting squished to death by an escaped snake ... My mother was very healthy, never smoked, rarely drank, ate a pretty healthy and varied diet. She got cancer (uterine) and passed away last year. There must be something genetic at play there. When you're number is up, your number is up. I'm not one to tempt fate, but Diet, exercise will only get you so far...

Did this study also control for how old the participants' parents lived? While diet and other personal efforts can extend life, longevity is also determined by genetics.

"... a new study suggests."

You need a study to figure out why, of all the old people on the bus, none are 800 pounders?

A problem with trying to keep up with state of the art studies about nutrition is this. There seem to be so many studies coming out all the time, and contradicting each other. This makes it hard for laymen like me to know who is right. I understand that there is a learning curve to proving what is healthy for us. It seems to me that a diet rich in natural foods, i.e. as unprocessed and fresh as possible, rich in green leafy veggies, whole grains, non- fat dairy, lean meats, fins and scales fish, legumes, in small portions is one part of good health habits. Add to that daily exercise, good sleep habits, successful stress management techniques, general happiness, and quality medical care. You will do about as well as genetic and environmental factors allow. This is only my subjective opinion. It is not the result of a scientific double blind study. That said, because of the shifting sands results of controlled scientific studies I will opt for common sense, and play the percentages. G-d bless, Enoch.

One of my secrets to long life (I'm almost 30) is karate.  I like to do kicks and sometimes chops.  I tend to operate better when well lubricated with an alcoholic beverage.  The other day I did a flying helicopter kick in the living room and got all tangled up in the Christmas tree. 

Genetics does play an important part. Diet also. I'm almost 70 and my children are 45, 35, 7, 4. Yes, they are really mine. Genetics..my Mother is 95 and healthy; her best friend and cousin lived to 103 and died bright and active. If your genetics aren't good, at least give it a good try with diet and a brisk walk 3 times a week.

Really? Eating healthy makes you healthy? This study wins the "Duh!" award!

doc told me not to eat anything that the cal fat is more than 30% and less than 2000 cals a day. it works.

I think being reasonable about diets and exercise is the best and be very questionable about affects of doctor prescribed short and long term drugs,ever wonder why they get free samples from drug companies?Doctors,hospitals and drug companies are ruthless big time money grabbers,you health is secondary after they find out how you are going to pay for their .....professional services by waiting in the waiting room and getting approval.They are draining medicare and insurance companies that question nothing about the outragous charges.They answer"Oh,thats just the way it is for all the wonderful services and prescriptions for drugs".And I question the all preservatives used in our food.I think I'll become an illegal immigrant and invest in salt and drug companies,long live the king and love uncle Sam for no cost and no taxes.

Besides all recommended foods to keep young and healthy, regardless of age matter, Environmental factors, DNA corrective links,( acquired or inherited diseases ) and workline stress, may add more life expectancy as if configured.