[Eating and drinking during aging]

The retirement is a good moment in life to mirror one's health behaviour in regard to eating habits and physical activity. Based on the literature we recommend the Mediterranean "diet" in all ages. This diet is characterized by the intake of fresh fruit, vegetables, cereals, olive oil, fish, little meat, legumes, spices and herbs such as basil and garlic. A glass wine a day is legitimate. In increasing age total energy needs are decreasing. Therefore the energy intake has to be adjusted. Caloric restriction per se is a powerful means to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, not only the eating habits but also the entire lifestyle are important factors to influence cardiovascular mortality. Thus, the "low risk factors", i.e. Mediterranean diet, moderate alcohol consumption, physical activity and non-smoking must be controlled to improve health. In the HALE project the control of these factors reduced over-all mortality by 65 percent!