Polyphenol subclasses and mortality in a Spanish nationwide cohort

Researchers followed Spanish adults in a nationwide health study for many years. They estimated how much polyphenols, natural plant chemicals found in foods such as fruit, vegetables, tea, coffee, and whole grains, each person ate. They compared death rates among people with lower and higher intakes of different polyphenol groups. People who ate more total polyphenols, especially some flavonoids and phenolic acids, generally had fewer deaths, although the results differed between groups.

What this means for you: This suggests that a plant-rich diet may be linked with longer life, but it does not prove polyphenols themselves caused the benefit. Choose ordinary plant foods rather than polyphenol supplements, since the study cannot separate their effects from other healthy habits.