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A common dietary practice might negatively impact the lifespan of individuals aged 80 and above.
In January 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services introduced a new food pyramid, flipping conventional wisdom by placing ground beef, steak, chicken, and fish at the top. This move marked the end of what they described as the war on protein. The revised guidelines emphasized including high-quality, nutrient-rich proteins from both animal and plant sources in every meal, alongside healthy fats from whole foods like eggs, seafood, meats, full-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados.
Recent findings published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggest that meat consumption significantly influences the likelihood of reaching 100 years of age. Researchers tracked over 5,000 Chinese adults aged 80 and older as part of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey from 1998 to 2018. They discovered that individuals who avoided meat were less likely to celebrate their 100th birthday compared to their meat-eating counterparts.
“The headline ‘vegetarians over 80 less likely to reach 100’ sounds surprising, because it contrasts with decades of data linking plant‑forward diets to lower chronic disease risk earlier in life,” registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade told Fox News Digital. “However, once you see that this research is limited to adults over the age of 80 who are also underweight — and that this link disappears with the consumption of eggs, dairy and fish — the results are less surprising.”
Non meat-eaters who included fish, dairy or eggs in their diet (crucial for muscle and bone health thanks to a host of important nutrients) did not have the same reduced likelihood of reaching 100. This is in line with the new government health guidelines that strongly encourage the consumption of fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, which are an excellent source of protein and rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients help lower triglycerides, reduce inflammation, and prevent plaque buildup in arteries, says the Mayo Clinic.
This doesn’t mean the plants and vegetables don’t offer benefits, but that a variety of food is best, with no major food groups being eliminated (as in the case of strict veganism).
“For adults in their 80s and beyond, especially anyone losing weight or muscle, the priority should be maintaining a healthy weight and meeting protein and micronutrient needs — even if that means adding or increasing fish, eggs, dairy or well‑planned, fortified plant proteins and supplements,” Palinski-Wade said.