If you told me that eating fast food every other day would only cut a year or two off my life, I'd probably say, "worth it." But this number is much bigger . . .
A new study out this week found that switching to a healthy, more plant-based diet could add an extra DECADE to your life . . . ten years for women, and 13 years for men.
By "healthy," they mean switching from a western diet with lots of red meat and processed food, to an "optimized" diet that focuses more on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains.
If a woman made that type of lifestyle change at age 20, she could increase her lifespan by just over 10 years. And for men, 13 years.
But the good news is it can still have a huge effect, even if you start much later in life.
If you start at age 60, women can still improve their lifespan by eight years. And it's closer to nine years for men.
The study found even people in their 80s could extend their life by three-and-a-half years just by switching to a healthier, more plant-based diet.
(CNN)