While what you eat can have an affect on your health, your fate is much more governed by your genetic background. I've had vegan and vegetarian friends who exercised religiously and avoided processed food entirely. All of them are gone now, and I keep plugging on, not terribly diligent about exercise, eating more than the usual share of dairy, red meat, and eggs. Fresh fruits and vegetables are part of my diet, but fast foods definitely get included. I haven't had a sick day in decades, so I have to credit that to choosing the right ancestors.

I've been somewhat of a health nut for at least 15 years, and regularly break my own rules, particularly with alcohol (especially for the last 8 years in the reign of Obama), and take various supplements. A while ago I discovered Vega (a power that is loaded with "good stuff") and since using that in various ways my vital signs have all improved markedly. Of course exercise is a part of that, but I'm not particularly zealous in that area. My (female) doctor is the best I've ever had, and mostly we spend the time in the exams talking about food intake and supplements, and she is pretty mainstream.
Definitely, you are what you eat (and also what you do).
At age 73, I feel better than I ever have.

Primarily stegosaurus, on occasion a rundown sick or a picked off young diplodicus and whatever edible other has the misfortune of crossing some of my random ambush predation.

A retired black baseball player celebrated his 100th birthday.
A journalist asked him his secret for healthy long life.
"I only eats strictly fried foods".
I think this is a true story from the fifties.

Supplements, MM's question- I do not take vitamin supplements unless under the weather.
I take CoQ10 regularly, strictly speaking it is not a vitamin.

Typically, banana-almond-coconut-walnut waffles (with coconut butter, not dairy butter, and with a fresh banana, sliced), jambalaya, fresh lettuce, grape tomatoes, and 8 ounces of carrot juice, which I prepare using my own machine from organic carrots.

I find that by exercising vigorously and regularly, and avoiding alcohol, I keep my weight and blood pressure down and I can pretty much eat what I want. I get my share of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish, but also steaks, cheeseburgers, chocolate and ice cream.

So if someone comments about you being off your meds ... ;^)

If the beer is home brew, there are great nutrients in the bottom of the bottle, so it is healthy when not overused. (It's also a way to shrug.) Wine has other health benefits in moderation.

You are young and can get away with it for now. Just remember: "If I had known that I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself."

(It might be suggested that you do not "like" Taco Bell and Mountain Dew. Rather, you are addicted to them. It is not just the meat and spices or the caffeine. It is the other stuff... all the other stuff... )

I eat unhealthful food. I know humankind is adapted to eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and a little meat, not the stuff that comes with health claims. But I really like Taco Bell and Mountain Dew.

Red wine and fine beer "makes life worth living". I go by the credo that a fine alcoholic beverage each day is probably good for you...

Yes, CoQ10 is pretty interesting. I noticed an aerobic boost with it.

I'm a bit outside the mainstream but I take 70 supplements a day, and I credit Coenzyme Q10 with my being able to avoid the heart surgery that my cardiologist has been recommending for the past 15 years. I eat a reasonably healthy diet but do indulge in sweets, especially around the holidays.

I'm with you, Mike. I read the labels of anything packaged that is arguably edible, and packaged foods are only a small part of my diet. I have a garden that provides a good portion of our veggies and herbs during most of the year, and we use canning to store some for the cold months, too.
Much of the refuse from the food prep process goes into the compost heap to nourish the garden next season.
Supplements are a part of my daily routine, too.
I am helping my nutritionist to create a line of healthy personal care products to be sold on the internet.
I hope Santa will bring me a gift to make tonic water at home. Santa? You listening?

I love food. For me, it's more than just eating. I catch my own load of tuna and yellow tail each year (with a little dorado mixed in). So, I eat a lot of fish. I avoid red meat anymore (other than the occasional burger), and have cut way back on pork and chicken. I started making my own pizzas this past year, from scratch. That's simple fun for the whole family. I recently started tossing the dough, too. My weakness is probably two things...croissants, and tortillas. Two carb-loaded things I can't seem to avoid. Wife's family is French so the croissants are their fault. But, a croissant goes so well with coffee...or red wine. I love veggies and salad and don't get as much as I want. I am famous for my ahi poke and I make plenty of sushi and sashimi. Sometimes I'll make a pile of spicy tuna and spoon that over a bowl of sushi rice. Let me tell you...that's so good it should be illegal and, frankly, I'm sure it will be eventually...

Unlike coaldigger, I take vitamins. But, I'd agree that with a VERY good diet they aren't all that vital.

I eat what I like. Fortunately, I hate junk foods. Unfortunately, I love red meat, red wine and pasta. I think vitamins are a scam. I just eat a dollar bill a day, wash it when I pass it so I can buy something worthwhile. I do like seafood and raw vegetables. I don't eat anything that is green and has been cooked. Butter is good for some things but I like olive oil, not because it is healthy but because it is good. Oh, my favorite substance is salt and nothing is better than a crust of it on the outside of a big, bloody steak. Other than some chocolate, I don't care for sweets. I do like alcohol but not whisky as much as wine and digestifs. I got my diet from my mom that just passed away this year at 106.

I ask because of the recent post by OldUglyCarl about the danger of high fructose corn syrup in General Mill's Vanilla Chex. Myself, I would never buy it. If I have cereal in the morning - and I alternate between a mix of two different whole grains and an egg with spinach - it is not from General Mills, or General Foods.

I said that I would bet silver dollars against FRNs that most Gulchers follow a rational diet. My estimate is that we all generally make the healthiest choices possible -- and we all indulge in something that makes life worth living, like beef, which really is not all that good for you.

We could argue fruit. It is easy to like. One nutritionist told my wife that "fruit just slows you down." He recommended vegetables instead. We all have our pet theories.

My thesis here is that no one in the Gulch mindlessly grabs down from the grocer's shelf attractive boxes of prepared and processed foods on the belief that the government says that the products are safe.

Does anyone here not take vitamin supplements?