A recent study suggests that adopting a fasting-like diet could potentially slow down the aging process, offering the promise of living longer and healthier. Researchers from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology in Los Angeles conducted a study on the benefits of a ‘fasting-mimicking diet’ (FMD) and found compelling results.
The study, published in Nature Communications, involved 100 participants between 18 and 70 years old. Half of the group followed the FMD, which consisted of five days of the special diet followed by 25 days of normal eating for three or four cycles. The control group maintained a normal or Mediterranean-style diet.
The results were astonishing. The individuals on the fasting-mimicking diet showed reduced biological age, improved immune system aging, decreased insulin resistance, and reduced liver fat. Additionally, they exhibited decreased abdominal and liver fat, as well as a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which is associated with heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Furthermore, participants on the experimental diet displayed signs of a more youthful immune system. On average, the adopters of the FMD showed a reduction in biological age by 2.5 years, as determined by the functioning of their cells and tissues.
Senior author Valter Longo, USC Leonard Davis School Professor, expressed surprise at the significant impact of the FMD on biological age, body fat, and various disease risk factors. The FMD involved energy bars, plant-based soups, chip snacks, energy drinks, and tea, and was conducted for only five days a month, allowing participants to have modified/low-calorie but regular meals for the rest of the month.
Longo projected that continuing the cycles for three cycles a year for 20 years could potentially reduce biological age by 11 years and decrease the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
These findings illuminate the potential of a fasting-mimicking diet in promoting longevity and overall health. While further research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects, this study offers promising insights into the impact of dietary interventions on aging and disease risk.
