Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a nutritional index that estimates how different foods affect healthy lifespan, according to findings published in the scientific journal Nature Food. The study examined more than 5,800 food items and calculated their potential impact measured in minutes of healthy life.
According to the research model, consuming a hot dog may be associated with a loss of approximately 36 minutes of healthy life, while eating a serving of nuts could add about 26 minutes. The researchers emphasized that these figures represent statistical estimates based on population-level data, not a literal calculation that each hot dog consumed directly subtracts 36 minutes from an individual's lifespan.
The nutritional index developed for the study incorporates 15 dietary risk factors along with disease and mortality data. Foods receiving positive scores were linked to gains in healthy life minutes, while negative scores indicated potentially harmful health effects.
The research identified processed meats, beef, and lamb as foods to limit. Conversely, the recommended category included fruits, field-grown vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. The study also noted that greenhouse-grown vegetables carry a relatively high environmental impact.
One key finding suggests that replacing just 10% of daily calories from beef and processed meats with a combination of fruits, vegetables, nuts, or legumes could be associated with gaining approximately 48 minutes of healthy life per day.
"Our findings demonstrate that small, targeted changes represent a feasible and powerful strategy for achieving significant health and environmental benefits, without requiring dramatic dietary overhauls," said Professor Olivier Jolliet, the study's senior author.
