A “healthy diet” is the single most important factor for living longer with more vitality, according to a new survey of health experts – creating an opportunity for food and beverage brands to connect with consumers by emphasizing nutrient density, clean labels and food-as-medicine benefits.
A survey of medical doctors, registered dietitians, fitness experts and pharmacists conducted by US News & World Report published this week found 47% of respondents identified healthy diet as the top factor for healthy aging, followed closely by regular exercise at 40% and quality sleep at 2%.
A healthy diet was also the second daily priority practiced by survey participants to support healthy aging at 43% - just a few points behind physical activity at 49% and significantly higher than managing mind-body connection through quality sleep, stress management and mindfulness at 11%
“Experts agree that eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can support healthy aging by providing essential nutrients that protect cells from damage, reduce inflammation and prevent chronic diseases often associated with aging,” according to the survey.
Conversely, “eating processed foods” was noted by 30% of respondents as a common mistake that makes people age faster – tied with poor sleep hygiene and just behind smoking at 34% and lack of regular exercise at 57%.
The report argues that eating processed foods “promotes inflammation, weight gain and risk of various health conditions, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and mental health disorders.”
Is eating processed foods a ‘mistake’ for healthy aging?
The importance and perceived impact of diet – both good and bad – on healthy aging positions the food and beverage industry at the core of the conversation on how to live a longer more vital life, notes Shanley Chien, a senior editor of health at US News.
“With ‘eating processed foods’ ranked as a top-three healthy aging mistake by our panel of health experts, there is more awareness and caution among consumers of the negative health effects of these products. Many of these products, especially ultra processed foods, typically contain high levels of unhealthy fats, added sugars, sodium and preservatives, which have all been associated with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and mental health issues,” she said.
Consumer awareness about ultra-processed foods has increased sharply in the past year, according to research by the International Food Information Council. IFIC’s most recently Food & Health Survey found four in 10 Americans are familiar with term ‘ultra-processed food’ – up 12 points from 32% in the organization’s 2024 survey.
“Among those who are familiar with the term ‘ultra processed food,’ half would look at the ingredients list and/or the Nutrition Facts label to decide whether a food is ‘ultra-processed,’” according to IFIC.
Likewise, nearly eight in 10 Americans report considering whether a food is processed before buying it, IFIC found.
Is now the time to reformulate with cleaner labels?
Given the heightened awareness and growing concern about processing and ingredients, Chien advised brands “to reevaluate the types and quality of their ingredients to ensure food products are as healthy and nutrient-packed as possible.”
She also suggests brands “move away from broad, generic ‘healthy’ claims and align with specific habits and mistakes identified by the experts,” and position a brand or product “as a solution to one of these top healthy aging mistakes and problems.”
This advice echoes findings revealed by IFIC in its survey, which found six in 10 Americans are more interested in hearing about what to eat and half are more interested in learning about how to eat rather than what not to eat.
