My mother was Hungarian. To her, the verb "to love" meant "to eat". She showed her love by cooking. We returned that love by eating. There were always baked goods in the house, so that guests could be welcomed with food. My dad was the one who ordered jars of wheat bran from overseas in the 70s, forbid bacon and hot dogs because of nitrates, and tried to encourage us to go jogging with him. He celebrated his 98th birthday yesterday. So, yes, a healthy diet and exercise can definitely prolong your life. According to studies, so can a calorie restricted diet.