You are reading Elderly, can diet help physical fitness?

Food & diet

Elderly, can diet help physical fitness?

January 1, 2018

Fruit, vegetables and wholegrain cereals could help to maintain a good physical condition for the elderly. This is suggested by research carried out by the University of Southampton (UK) and published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. According to its authors, those who have followed a healthier diet as adults would be more likely to enjoy a better physical function in later life: “The relationship between diet and functional ability also calls into question the role of physical activity. Probably those who follow a diet of quality reserve time for physical activity,” adds Professor Daniela Lucini, Head of the Humanitas Section of Exercise Medicine.

 

The study

The researchers analyzed the dietary habits of 969 individuals all born in 1946, of both sexes. This information had been collected at four times in their adult life: at the ages of 36, 43, and 53 until the age of 60 to 64. These data were related to the results of three physical function tests performed when participants were over 60 years old.

 

The three tests are standard tests that evaluate the physical and motor abilities of individuals over the years. The first measures how long it takes to stand up and sit ten times; the second measures how long it takes to get up and walk three meters before going back to sit; the third measures how much time it takes to stay in balance, on a single leg with eyes closed, up to a maximum of thirty seconds.

Related articles

The results

The best performance was recorded by those individuals who reported higher consumption of whole grains, fruit and vegetables and fewer processed foods over the course of their lives. In addition, researchers found that the results of the last two tests were better among those who had improved the quality of their diet during adulthood.

 

Researchers considered the general quality level of diet. This has been associated with a more efficient physical capacity in older people. This underlines the importance of healthy lifestyles based on both proper nutrition and an adequate level of physical activity once again. People who are attentive to the first element tend to be attentive to the second,” says Professor Lucini.

 

Often, we immediately think of the association between a healthy and balanced diet and the prevention of a large number of diseases, from cardiovascular diseases to metabolism and oncology. Its benefits, on the other hand, relate to a broader concept, that of general wellbeing in older age: “There are two sides of the same coin: a healthy lifestyle contributes to the prevention of various diseases and the absence of chronic pathologies allows you to enjoy more profitable physical abilities,” the specialist concludes.

You may also like

Do not miss our advice for your health

Sign up for the weekly Humanitas Health newsletter and get updates on prevention, nutrition, lifestyle and tips to improve your lifestyle