It really is an odd way to start the article. The first three paragraphs seem to undermine the idea that diet is such a central element in a long lifestyle, but then in the next two it just sort of waves that away with a "but diet is worth a close look, too".

I think the interview linked to later expanded on the nuances of this argument pretty well. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9127414...