A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NEJM 07/13/2017) shows that an improved diet is consistently associated with decreased mortality. I will call this healthier diet the Longevity Diet. Unhealthy diets have been linked as a major factor contributing to death and health complications, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol.
Over time, people who reported increased consumption of whole grains, vegetables and n-3 fatty acids (also called omega-3) as well as decreased sodium intake lived longer, had a lower body weight measurement (BMI) and were more physically active.
These results indicate that making more healthy food choices and improving diet quality decreases the risk of disease and leads to a longer life.