Mediterranean-style diet can help you live longer

CAMBRIDGE, MA (KGO) -- A new study claims that a Mediterranean-style diet can extend your life by extending part of your DNA.

Harvard Medical School researchers followed nearly 5,000 nurses. The results show that those who adhered to the diet ended up with longer telomeres, which are the caps at the end of all chromosomes.

Researchers say longer telomeres, could translate into an average gain of about four and a half years of life.

"I's good for the heart, it's good for the brain, it's good for the waistline. If diet can modify how we age on a cellular level, that's a big deal," explained researcher Jan Ashton.

The diet is rich in fish, nuts, vegetables, olive oil and even red wine, is also associated with a decreased risk of heart disease and cancer.