The Daily News – February 20, 2025

Coming up in our program today, we’ll be discussing can eating diverse foods delay aging? Next, the connection between vitamin C and Alzheimer’s mortality and last drinking regular milk is tied to higher heart disease risk in women. Welcome to the Daily News. So first up, a new study from China suggests eating a diverse diet may be linked to a slower rate of aging. The findings published in Frontiers in Medicine highlight how dietary variety could influence the pace at which we age. Biologically, this research builds on previous studies linking specific diets like the Mediterranean diet to slower aging and reduced risk of age-related diseases. However, this is one of the first to focus on the diversity of food intake as a factor. The study assessed biological aging, which looks at the health of cells and tissues rather than just chronological age. Interestingly, higher dietary diversity scores were linked to lower levels of markers associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. Researchers analyzed data from over 22,000 adults and found that consuming foods from all five major food groups, namely grains, vegetables, fruit, meat, and dairy, were associated with a slower pace of aging. These results suggest that eating a wider variety of foods may help reduce inflammation and slow aging. The researchers said the findings support the hypothesis that a diverse diet may play a key role in slowing the biological aging process. While the results are promising, the researchers caution that the study is observational, meaning it shows correlation but not causation. More research is needed to determine whether switching to a diverse diet later in life has the same benefits. For now. These findings draw attention to the potential benefits of including a variety of foods in your diet to support overall health and potentially slow aging. Now for our next story, do you need an extra incentive to eat more fruits and vegetables? While a new study suggests that maintaining healthy levels of vitamin C may help lower the risk of dying from Alzheimer’s, this research published in Taylor and Francis online analyzed the long-term health data of over 4,800 US adults. The study found a strong link between higher vitamin C levels and reduced Alzheimer’s mortality. Participants were monitored for up to 31 years tracking their vitamin C blood levels and adjusting for factors like age, lifestyle, and preexisting conditions. Results showed that those with adequate vitamin C levels had a 38% lower risk of dying from Alzheimer’s disease compared to those with deficient levels. Vitamin C found abundantly in citrus fruits, berries, and leafy greens is a powerful antioxidant. Researchers believe its ability to combat oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease may explain the connection according to one of the lead researchers. Maintaining adequate vitamin C status may aid in lowering Alzheimer’s disease mortality risk. While the study doesn’t prove causation, it highlights the importance of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables for overall brain health. Now for our last story, this report is based on an article in medical news today about a recent Swedish study examining the link between milk consumption and heart disease risk. So these findings, which were published in BMC Medicine suggest that the type of milk you drink may play a role in heart health, especially for women. Now, non fermented milk or regular milk was associated with a higher risk of heart disease and heart attacks in women who consumed more than 300 milliliters daily, and that’s roughly about one and a half glasses. In contrast, the study found no such risk in men. On the other hand, fermented milk products like yogurt and sour milk showed no association with heart disease risk for either. Gender. Experts think this might be due to the beneficial bacteria in fermented products, which can reduce inflammation and support gut and heart health. This study’s lead author suggests that women’s metabolism of milk components like lactose might differ from men’s potentially increasing oxidative stress and inflammation. One highly respected cardiologist who was not involved in the study was not surprised by the findings he explained. Fermented milk is loaded with vitamin B12 D, riboflavin, calcium, magnesium, and protein, which has been associated with reduced inflammation. Also, it promotes an improved microbiome, improved immunity, reduced stress, and helps maintain blood sugar levels. The study involved nearly 100,000 Swedish men and women tracked over several decades. The highest risk was seen in women who drank four glasses of regular milk daily. This group was found to have a 21% higher risk of heart disease compared to those drinking only half a glass daily. Importantly, the findings were consistent regardless of the milk’s fat content. The article’s takeaway based on the study is if you’re choosing milk, opting for fermented varieties might be a better option for heart health, particularly for women. Some fermented milk drinks commonly available in Canada are kafi yogurt drinks, cultured buttermilk and fermented probiotic milk. You can find these products in grocery stores and health food shops across Canada. Those were our top stores for today. Thank you so much for joining us on the Daily News.