Nutrition doesn’t matter.
Or at least, it doesn’t matter anywhere as much as you think.
If your diet is terrible – mostly fast food, constant ultra-processed food, litres of sugary drinks – then that’s probably a problem.
But most people aren’t there.
(And nor is the science).
You and I, we’re in the middle somewhere.
Some fruit and veg.
Some protein.
Not perfect. Not catastrophic.
Which – let’s be honest – is not a bad epitaph.
But here is the part people don’t like.
Exercise has a bigger and clearer impact on longevity than diet.
Low cardiorespiratory fitness is a stronger predictor of mortality than smoking, diabetes or hypertension.
Moving from low to moderate fitness dramatically reduced risk.
And overweight people who are physically fit have lower mortality risk than normal-weight people who are unfit.
That’s not anti-nutrition.
That's the hierarchy of evidence.
Once you’re out of “terrible diet” territory, the gains from being increasingly perfect are small.
A single bacon sandwich doesn’t define your future.
Eating more legumes probably improves it.
But going from sedentary to active?
That’s transformative.
And the fitness gains never stop.
Even going from fit to super fit will improve life expectancy.
So stop perfecting your grocery list.
Start improving your VO₂ Max.
And, of course, enjoying the odd sarnie.
Red or brown sauce?
References:
Exercise and Aging – Dr. Anne Friedlander (Stanford)
How to Exercise & Eat for Optimal Health & Longevity | Dr. Gabrielle Lyon
Physical Inactivity: The Biggest Public Health Problem of the 21st Century
British Medical Journal – “Implausible Results in Human Nutrition Research”
Or at least, it doesn’t matter anywhere as much as you think.
If your diet is terrible – mostly fast food, constant ultra-processed food, litres of sugary drinks – then that’s probably a problem.
But most people aren’t there.
(And nor is the science).
You and I, we’re in the middle somewhere.
Some fruit and veg.
Some protein.
Not perfect. Not catastrophic.
Which – let’s be honest – is not a bad epitaph.
But here is the part people don’t like.
Exercise has a bigger and clearer impact on longevity than diet.
Low cardiorespiratory fitness is a stronger predictor of mortality than smoking, diabetes or hypertension.
Moving from low to moderate fitness dramatically reduced risk.
And overweight people who are physically fit have lower mortality risk than normal-weight people who are unfit.
That’s not anti-nutrition.
That's the hierarchy of evidence.
Once you’re out of “terrible diet” territory, the gains from being increasingly perfect are small.
A single bacon sandwich doesn’t define your future.
Eating more legumes probably improves it.
But going from sedentary to active?
That’s transformative.
And the fitness gains never stop.
Even going from fit to super fit will improve life expectancy.
So stop perfecting your grocery list.
Start improving your VO₂ Max.
And, of course, enjoying the odd sarnie.
Red or brown sauce?
References:
Exercise and Aging – Dr. Anne Friedlander (Stanford)
How to Exercise & Eat for Optimal Health & Longevity | Dr. Gabrielle Lyon
Physical Inactivity: The Biggest Public Health Problem of the 21st Century
British Medical Journal – “Implausible Results in Human Nutrition Research”
