Boston: A new study has found that the diet you eat in your 40s can have a significant impact on your quality of life in your 70s.

The study examined data from more than 100,000 participants in the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, which spanned 30 years.

A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Dietetic Association in Chicago found that after age 40, people who ate a healthy diet showed physical and mental improvements of 43% to 84% compared to those who did not.

Anne-Julie Tessier, lead author of the study, said diet plays an important role in protecting against chronic diseases. However, some studies examine and compare the effects of healthy diets on all aspects of healthy aging, including mental and physical health.

A study found that high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, nuts, legumes and low-fat milk was associated with an increased likelihood of healthy aging. In contrast, high intake of trans fat, sodium, processed meat, and total meat are associated with a greater likelihood of healthy aging.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 106,000 people starting in 1986. At the start of the study, participants were at least 39 years old and free of chronic diseases. Every four years, participants fill out a questionnaire about their diet.