A large-scale study conducted by Chinese researchers on 2.3 million people found that cheese consumption provides unexpected health benefits. A team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine investigated the impact of mental health on aging and discovered that mental health is the most significant contributor to healthy aging and longevity, noting a strong relationship between cheese consumption and healthy aging. The study, led by Professor Tian Ji Wang, suggested that happy individuals tend to live longer, regardless of socio-economic status.
By comparing results related to positive expectations, symptoms of depression and neuroticism, and life satisfaction with age-related health issues, researchers found that mental health deterioration is associated with known behaviors and diseases that shorten lifespan. The study also concluded that those who reported better levels of mental health and stress resilience seemed to eat more cheese.
Using 33 factors to link mental health with physical aging, researchers found that although cheese was not directly responsible for longevity, higher consumption of cheese and fruit significantly contributed to achieving high levels of well-being. In fact, those who reported eating cheese had a positive impact of 3.67% on healthy aging factors, while the positive impact of consuming more fruit was 1.96%.
Researchers pointed out that the nature of this association remains unclear and requires further study. Behaviors and lifestyle choices that significantly reduced the degree of healthy aging included watching television, smoking, using medications, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), stroke, coronary artery disease, and ischemic heart diseases. Wang explained, "Our findings emphasize the importance of prioritizing mental well-being in health policies aimed at healthy aging." He suggested that staying active, limiting television viewing, and avoiding smoking could enhance cognitive function and prevent common diseases.
Using a technique called "Mendelian randomization" to analyze participants' DNA, researchers found that those with better mental health tend to maintain better health as they age.
