Whole-Grain Intake in the Mediterranean Diet and a Low Protein to Carbohydrates Ratio Can Help to Reduce Mortality from Cardiovascular Disease, Slow Down the Progression of Aging, and to Improve Lifespan: A Review

• Published in: Nutrients 2021-07, Vol.13 (8), p.2540
• Main Author: Capurso, Cristiano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Aging; Aging - physiology; Beans; Carbohydrates; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - mortality; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Case-Control Studies; Cereals; Cognitive ability; Cohort Studies; Development and progression; diet; Diet - mortality; Diet, Carbohydrate Loading - mortality; Diet, Mediterranean; Diet, Protein-Restricted - mortality; Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage; Dietary fiber; Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage; Eating - physiology; Edible Grain; Female; frailty; Geriatrics; Grain; Health aspects; Health risks; Humans; Legumes; Life Expectancy; Life span; lifespan; Longevity; Low carbohydrate diet; Low protein diet; Male; Mental health; Middle Aged; Mimosaceae; Mortality; Nutrient deficiency; Nuts; Older people; Optimization; Physical activity; Proteins; Review; whole grain; Whole Grains
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu13082540

Increase in the aging population is a phenomenon all over the world. Maintaining good functional ability, good mental health, and cognitive function in the absence of severe disease and physical disability define successful aging. A healthy lifestyle in middle age predisposes successful aging. Longevity is the result of a multifactorial phenomenon, which involves feeding. Diets that emphasize fruit and vegetables, whole grains rather than refined grains, low-fat dairy, lean meats, fish, legumes, and nuts are inversely associated with mortality or to a lower risk of becoming frail among elderly subjects. A regular physical activity and a regular intake of whole grain derivatives together with the optimization of the protein/carbohydrate ratio in the diet, where the ratio is significantly less than 1 such as in the Mediterranean diet and the Okinawan diet, reduces the risk of developing aging-related diseases and increases healthy life expectancy. The purpose of our review was to analyze cohort and case-control studies that investigated the effects of cereals in the diet, especially whole grains and derivatives as well as the effects of a diet with a low protein-carbohydrate ratio on the progression of aging, mortality, and lifespan.