Study Finds This Common Activity Is Accelerating Ageing

According to a new study, fast food could be aging us faster.

The study from Finland analyzes the health of twins between the ages of 20 and 25, including their dietary habits. And it turns out, their fast food intake was particularly concerning.

• The twins who ate fast food, lots of red and processed meat, and sugar-sweetened soft drinks aged biologically faster.
• But those who had diets high in vegetables and fruits, but low in meat, fast food and sugary sodas experienced slower biological aging.

Since this research was done on young adults, study authors point out that sticking to a healthy diet “from a young age” may reduce health risks later in life. While lifestyle factors, like physical activity, smoking and body weight can make a difference, researchers point out that diet is definitely tied to aging. Study author Suvi Ravi explains, “Diet maintained a small independent association with aging even when we accounted for other lifestyle factors.”