Yogurt, cheese and chocolate linked to longer life and lower mortality risk in study

A new large-scale study suggests that yogurt, cheese and even chocolate could help people live longer.

The analysis found that certain fermented and fermentation-derived foods may be associated with a lower risk of death, according to a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

Researchers analyzed data from 50 studies involving more than 3 million people to examine how these foods — made from beneficial microbes like bacteria or yeast — are linked to overall mortality risk, as well as deaths from heart disease and cancer.

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“Higher consumption of chocolate, cheese and fermented milks (including yogurt) was associated with lower mortality from all causes and cardiovascular disease,” the researchers write in their article.

While cheese consumption was linked to a slight reduction in all-cause mortality, the associations with heart disease and cancer deaths were less consistent, they noted.

Consuming certain fermented milks, including yogurt, could help you live longer, according to a new study. (iStock)

Chocolate, derived from fermented cocoa beans, was also associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality, the researchers reported.

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But not all foods in the fermented category showed the same results.

Products like miso, a fermented soybean paste, and fermented bread, like sourdough, have not shown consistent links to reduced mortality.

Not all fermented foods gave the same results, according to researchers. (iStock)

The potential benefits seen in foods like yogurt and fermented milk may be linked to their impact on gut health, as these foods may contain beneficial bacteria and compounds that influence inflammation, metabolism and immune function, the study notes.

The potential effects of chocolate may be linked to cocoa polyphenols, plant compounds that may support heart health by improving blood vessel function and reducing oxidative stress.

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“Fermentation is one of the oldest methods of food processing and remains central to the human diet worldwide,” the researchers said.

In addition to helping preserve food, fermentation produces compounds and byproducts that may benefit health, linking fermented foods to possible long-term protection against illness and death, they noted.

The potential benefits of certain fermented foods may be linked to their impact on gut health. (iStock)

They said their work was the first meta-analysis to comprehensively examine the link between fermented food consumption and mortality.

“Many brands of yogurt, kefir and kombucha use added sugar, making this seemingly ‘healthy’ food very high in sugar, defeating the whole purpose.”

But according to experts, it’s important to choose the right types of fermented foods.

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“For the most beneficial fermented foods, look for foods with refrigerated ‘live active cultures,'” said Robin DeCicco, a certified holistic nutritionist based in New York who was not involved in the study. “These are generally better than heavily processed, shelf-stable foods.”

Chocolate was associated with a lower risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, according to the research. (iStock)

She noted that options like yogurt and kefir are typically refrigerated and offer a wide range of probiotic cultures.

Other good choices include tempeh, refrigerated pickles, sauerkraut and kimchi, DeCicco said, while cautioning that some fermented foods are high in sodium and may not be suitable for people with high blood pressure.

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“Many brands of yogurt, kefir and kombucha use added sugar, making this seemingly ‘healthy’ food very high in sugar, defeating the whole purpose,” DeCicco added.

The researchers noted that more rigorous studies, including clinical trials, are needed to better understand whether these foods directly help extend life.

The researchers also emphasized that the findings are based on observational data, meaning they can show connections but not cause and effect.

Dietary habits, lifestyle factors, and general health behaviors may also play a role in observed results, even when studies attempt to account for these variables.

Dietary habits, lifestyle factors, and general health behaviors may also play a role in observed results. (iStock)

The analysis also revealed variations between studies, likely due to differences in populations, dietary habits and how foods were processed or consumed.

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The researchers noted that more rigorous studies, including clinical trials, are needed to better understand whether these foods directly help extend life.

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Fox News Digital has contacted the researchers for comment.