Air pollution, plastic residues, worrying too much, sitting too much, forgetting to floss, drinking coffee, eating burgers – sometimes it can feel as if everything in life is conspiring to kill us.

Last week a team of US researchers announced that anyone born after 1965 is more likely to be on a shorter life-expectancy ticket. They said the increased exposure to 'various risk factors and environmental insults' of modern life means if you are under the age of 50 you are likely to have a biological age (the approximate age of your body and brain) that is considerably older than your chronological age.

Junk food consumption is cited in the study as one major contributing factor and it may be no coincidence that the mid-60s heralded the launch of Pop tarts, processed cheese and Doritos. But our increasingly stressful lifestyles, poor mental health, obesity and lack of activity also play a part.

Luckily, in recent years, numerous studies have isolated some of the many different lifestyle factors which might help to counter this effect by slowing your rate of aging and shrinking back your biological age.

One study by the University of Michigan in 2021 even worked out that although a single hot dog might reduce your life expectancy by 38 minutes, a piece of salmon could extend it by 70 minutes.

You could be forgiven for thinking it might be possible to eat your way to immortality – one avocado at a time - but unfortunately, the maths doesn't work like that.

However, health benefits do accumulate, and it's never too late to start.