While no one can control how long they’ll live completely, what you eat plays a pretty significant role. According to a 2023 study published in Nature, following a healthy diet can add a full decade to your life.

“Diet is one of the biggest contributors to your longevity,” Dr. Pooja Gidwani, an internal medicine doctor and longevity expert, told HuffPost. You probably already know the basics when it comes to eating for longevity: eating nutrient-rich whole foods and minimising processed foods and soda.

But eating for longevity isn’t always so straightforward. The experts we spoke to said that there are some foods and drinks that many people use to make their diet healthier, but the reality is that they actually work against longevity instead of supporting it.

Keep reading to find out what the sneakiest longevity sabotagers are...

1. Overly processed meat alternatives

You’ve likely heard that eating a primarily plant-based diet can add years to your life. It’s true. Scientific research shows that eating a plant-based diet consisting largely of fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and just a small amount of meat is associated with better health and lower mortality. But Maria Kupreeva, a registered dietitian with integrative health clinic The Longevity Lab, shared that relying too heavily on overly processed meat alternatives can backfire.

“Meat alternative products can be helpful for people who want to avoid meat for ethical or other reasons. They still provide protein and some other nutrients. But a lot of highly processed alternative meat products are high in sodium and have a lot of filler ingredients,” Kupreeva shared. High-sodium foods increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and other life-threatening conditions.

When possible, Kupreeva recommends going for plant-based foods like beans, lentils, chickpeas and tofu over ultra-processed meat alternatives. When you do buy them,........

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