“This study provides some of the strongest data to date supporting the theory that a better diet can lead to better fitness,” said lead author Michael Mee of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, USA, in a statement. press release.
“The fitness improvement we saw in people who were eating better was similar to the effect of 4,000 extra steps each day.”
Fruits and vegetables work
The study included 2,380 individuals with an average age of 54 years, 54% of whom were female.
All participants underwent a cycling test to measure their maximum oxygen uptake, the so-called VO2value, which is an important indicator of physical fitness.
The participants also completed a questionnaire about their diet, which the researchers assessed. Test subjects who ate plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grain products, nuts, legumes, fish, healthy fats, and limited amounts of red meat and alcohol scored the highest.
According to the researchers, there was a clear association between diet and physical fitness in both men and women, and the link was particularly strong in midlife to 54 years of age.
The results suggest that the link is due to the fact that a healthy diet is associated with a better metabolism.
Metabolism refers to the chemical processes in the body that convert water, food and other substances into substances the body needs to function – and researchers say a good metabolism may explain why healthy eating also improves fitness.
The research is an observational study, and the scientists stress that it cannot be concluded with certainty that healthy eating leads to a better state. It may also be that people who eat healthier than others may be fit.
