A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has shown that eating dietary fiber and high-quality carbohydrates in midlife is linked to positive health outcomes and healthy aging in older women.
The study featured a cohort of over 47,500 women in the Nurses’ Health Study from 1984 to 2016. Participants were under 60 years old at the start of the study, and their health was monitored throughout the study. The participants’ nutritional intake was measured using two questionnaires given in 1984 and 1986. During the study, the primary outcome was healthy aging, which was defined as a lack of major chronic diseases, lack of cognitive or physical impairments, and presence of good mental health. High-quality carbohydrate intake was specifically measured, including carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
The results of the study showed that higher intake of total carbohydrates, high-quality carbohydrates, and dietary fiber in midlife were associated with better odds of healthy aging as well as better odds of having a positive health status in several domains. On the other hand, higher intake of refined carbohydrates in midlife was associated with lower odds of healthy aging.
The authors noted that their results were consistent with other studies that have linked consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes with a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease. This study went one step further by linking consumption of these foods to better physical and cognitive function as we age. This research is particularly important because it links carbohydrate quality to health over long time periods; many studies have linked refined carbohydrates to worse health outcomes over shorter time periods, but this study suggests that high- and low-quality carbohydrates also have an impact on health and aging over longer timespans.
Sources: JAMA Network Open, Science Daily
