Scientists used genetic data to study whether what we eat affects how quickly our cells age. They looked at 38 different foods and drinks and measured something called telomeres—the protective caps on our cells that get shorter as we age. The study found that drinking wine (both red and white) may speed up cell aging, while eating nuts may slow it down. This challenges the popular idea that the Mediterranean diet (which includes wine) is perfect for living longer. The research suggests that not all parts of this diet work the same way, and we might need to rethink which foods really help us stay young.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating or drinking certain foods affects how fast our cells age, specifically looking at telomeres (the protective tips on our DNA that shorten with age)
  • Who participated: The study used genetic information from large databases of people rather than recruiting participants directly. This allowed researchers to study the effects of 38 different foods and drinks
  • Key finding: Drinking wine (both red and white) appears to speed up cell aging, while eating nuts appears to slow it down. These findings were strong enough to suggest a real cause-and-effect relationship, not just a coincidence
  • What it means for you: If you want to support healthy aging, eating more nuts and reducing alcohol consumption may be more important than following the Mediterranean diet as a whole package. However, this is one study using genetic data, so talk to your doctor before making major diet changes

The Research Details

This study used a special research method called Mendelian randomization, which is like using genetic information as a natural experiment. Instead of asking people what they eat and watching them over time (which can be unreliable), researchers used genetic variations that naturally make people eat more or less of certain foods. They looked at genetic data from large studies involving thousands of people to see if these genetic variations that affect diet also affect telomere length (a marker of cell aging). The researchers also used a technique called colocalization to find out if the same genetic variations were responsible for both the diet preference and the telomere changes, which would suggest a real connection.

The study examined 38 different dietary factors, including various types of alcohol, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and other foods. They used multiple statistical methods to check their results and make sure the findings were real and not due to other factors. They also tested the relationship in reverse—checking if telomere length might affect diet choices instead—to make sure the direction of the effect was correct.

This research method is important because it gets closer to proving cause-and-effect than regular observational studies. When researchers just ask people what they eat, they can’t be sure if the food caused the health effect or if something else did. By using genetic information, this study provides stronger evidence that wine and nuts actually affect how fast our cells age, not just that people who drink wine happen to age differently

The study’s strength comes from using genetic data, which is less biased than asking people to remember what they eat. The researchers used multiple statistical tests to verify their findings and checked for common problems that can make genetic studies misleading. However, the study doesn’t tell us the exact sample size, and it relies on genetic databases that may not represent all populations equally. The findings about wine and nuts were strong, but some other dietary factors showed weaker associations

What the Results Show

The study found two main results: First, drinking champagne, white wine, or red wine was associated with shorter telomeres, suggesting these drinks speed up cell aging. This relationship held true even when researchers adjusted for other factors and used different statistical methods. Second, eating nuts was associated with longer telomeres, suggesting nuts may slow down cell aging.

These findings were statistically significant, meaning they’re unlikely to be due to chance. The associations remained strong even when the researchers looked at the data in different ways to check for errors. Importantly, these results challenge the popular belief that the Mediterranean diet—which often includes wine as a key component—is uniformly good for slowing aging. Instead, the study suggests that different parts of this diet have different effects on aging.

The study examined many other foods and drinks but found that most didn’t show clear cause-and-effect relationships with telomere length. This suggests that not all foods affect cell aging equally, and that the effects of wine and nuts are particularly notable. The researchers also found that when they looked at multiple dietary factors together, the effects of wine and nuts remained significant, suggesting these are independent effects not explained by other diet choices

Previous studies have suggested that the Mediterranean diet is good for living longer and staying healthy. Many of these studies highlighted wine (especially red wine) as beneficial because of compounds it contains. This new genetic study contradicts that idea, suggesting that the alcohol in wine may actually speed up cell aging. However, the study agrees with existing evidence that nuts are healthy. This creates a more nuanced picture: some parts of the Mediterranean diet may be beneficial while others may be harmful

The study has several important limitations. First, it uses genetic data as a proxy for actual food consumption, which may not perfectly reflect what people really eat. Second, the study doesn’t tell us how much wine or nuts people need to consume to see these effects—it just shows that genetic factors that increase consumption are associated with telomere changes. Third, the study doesn’t explain the biological mechanism of how wine affects aging. Finally, genetic studies sometimes work better in certain populations, so these results may not apply equally to everyone

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, reducing alcohol consumption (especially wine) and increasing nut intake may support healthy cell aging. However, this is one study using genetic data, not a direct test in humans. The evidence is moderate strength—it suggests a real effect but isn’t definitive proof. Anyone considering major diet changes should talk to their doctor first, especially if they have health conditions or take medications

This research is relevant to anyone interested in healthy aging and longevity. It’s particularly important for people who follow the Mediterranean diet and assume all its components are equally beneficial. People who drink wine regularly should be aware of this potential aging effect. However, this study doesn’t mean you can never drink wine—it suggests that reducing consumption may be better for cell aging. People with alcohol-related health conditions should definitely consult their doctor

Telomere shortening is a gradual process that happens over years and decades. You wouldn’t expect to see changes in your cells in days or weeks. If you make diet changes based on this research, meaningful effects on cellular aging would likely take months to years to develop. This is a long-term health strategy, not a quick fix

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly alcohol consumption (especially wine) in standard drinks and daily nut intake in ounces or grams. Monitor trends over 3-month periods to see if you’re successfully reducing alcohol and increasing nuts
  • Set a specific goal like ‘reduce wine consumption to 2 glasses per week’ and ’eat 1 ounce of nuts daily.’ Use the app to log each time you drink wine or eat nuts, and celebrate weekly progress toward these goals
  • Review your alcohol and nut consumption monthly. Track any subjective measures of health and energy levels alongside your diet changes. Consider retesting biomarkers related to aging (if available through your doctor) every 6-12 months to see if dietary changes correlate with health improvements

This research uses genetic data to suggest cause-and-effect relationships between diet and cell aging, but it is not a direct clinical trial in humans. The findings about wine and nuts are based on statistical associations and should not be considered medical advice. Individual responses to diet changes vary greatly based on genetics, overall health, and lifestyle. Before making significant changes to your diet or alcohol consumption, especially if you have existing health conditions, take medications, or have a family history of health problems, consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian. This study does not replace personalized medical guidance from qualified healthcare professionals.