A study has worked out how many minutes certain food and drink could be taking off your lifespan
New research has revealed that consuming cheese may take more than a minute from your life expectancy. The study, conducted by experts at the University of Michigan, created a comprehensive list ranking nearly 5,800 foods based on their impact on longevity.
The team considered various factors such as additives, fats, calories, and sugar content to assess the health effects of each food item. They then adjusted their findings to a standard serving size, resulting in a Health Nutritional Index.
The study’s results were alarming for some popular foods, with sugary drinks like Coca Cola and Mountain Dew potentially shortening life by 12 minutes. Consuming bacon may deduct six minutes, while a double cheeseburger could trim nearly nine minutes off your lifespan.
Hot dogs were found to be particularly detrimental, costing 36 minutes of “healthy” life due to their preservatives, nitrates, sodium, and trans fatty acids. Even cured meats like prosciutto, commonly consumed in Italy – where the Mediterranean diet is widely eaten – may deduct 24 minutes from one’s lifespan.
Chicken wings were found to deduct three minutes and 30 seconds, while a serving of cheese may take over a minute off a healthy lifespan. It is not all bad though, Surrey Live reports, as healthy foods can add to your lifespan.
A banana was found to contribute 13 and a half minutes to life, a portion of baked salmon, another 16 minutes, and 30 grams of nuts can prolong your life by 26 minutes.
By swapping just 10 per cent of daily calories from beef and processed meats for fruits, veggies, legumes, and nuts, you could potentially add an estimated 48 minutes to your life, according to the study.
But take it with a pinch of salt, as these findings somewhat clash with certain established medical guidance. When it comes to cheese, the NHS reassures us that: “Milk and dairy products, such as cheese and yoghurt, are great sources of protein and calcium. They can form part of a healthy, balanced diet.
“Cheese can form part of a healthy, balanced diet, but it’s good to keep track of how much you eat and how often as it can be high in saturated fat and salt.”
The British Heart Foundation says cheese a strong provider of protein, with a mere 30g portion of cheddar supplying over one quarter of an adult’s daily calcium needs. And cheese is also loaded with phosphorus, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin A.
