Report: Eat Right: Live Longer

Being aware of the connection between diet and well-being leads to better health and longer lives. In fact a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study says nutritional knowledge is the key to better diets and longer lives.

The report noted that people who scored higher in a survey of their personal nutrient needs also rated higher in the Healthy Eating Index, a measure of how well a person's diet conforms to USDA nutritional guidelines. Broken down by age, older Americans consumed more healthy diets than younger people and showed a better understanding of the connection between diet and well-being. Generally, women scored better than men on the Healthy Eating Index.

The survey points to socioeconomic differences in the populations as well. People with higher incomes and more education tend to acquire more nutritional knowledge, which, in turn, leads them to improve their diets.