Elderly people who follow a healthy diet have an increased chance to live longer, according to a new scientific research that comes to confirm the importance of proper nutrition for life expectancy.

The researchers, under the guidance of Amy Anderson of the University of Maryland, who published the study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, according to the BBC, analyzed 2,500 persons aged 70 to 79 years and concluded that people who eat foods low in fat and prefer fruits and vegetables decrease the risk of dying over the next decade.

Those who ate a lot of fat in the form of ice cream, cheese, whole milk, etc., had the highest risk of death. The study found that those who ate healthy had an average increase of approximately 12% survival rate over the next decade.

The researchers divided the subjects into six groups according to their eating habits. The group who ate healthily, 21% died the next decade, compared with 34% who died from the group that consumed high fat and full fat dairy.

The researchers recommend that seniors should eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy and fish in order to increase years of life. Elderly also benefit from foods rich in fiber, iron, vitamin C, calcium, folic acid. Scientists also recommend older people to drink plenty of fluids, but not carbonated and reduce the amount of red meat (but not poultry), dried foods and sweets.

“The most harmful category of food in terms of risk of death appears to be the diet with many sweets and high fat”, said Amy Anderson, as these people take a lot of saturated fats and calories that promote obesity and increased cholesterol.