may be adopted diet like fasting Can it help slow down aging?
That’s the claim made by researchers at the University of Southern California’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology in Los Angeles, who led a study on the benefits of a “fasting-mimetic diet” (FMD).
In addition to lower biological age Diet is associated with insulin resistance and reduced liver fat, which is associated with aging of the immune system, according to a press release from the university.
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The findings, published February 20 in Nature Communications, are based on a clinical trial of 100 men and women between the ages of 18 and 70.
Half of the group was randomly assigned to FMD and adhered to the diet for 5 days, followed by 3 or 4 cycles of a normal diet for 25 days.
A new study found that a diet that mimics fasting reduces biological age and immune system aging, as well as insulin resistance and liver fat. (St. Petersburg)
The control group ate either a regular diet or a Mediterranean-style diet.
People in the foot-and-mouth disease group had less fat in their abdomens and liver, and showed a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
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Those who consumed the experimental diet also showed signs of a more youthful immune system.
Overall, the researchers found that the biological age of adoptees with FMD decreased by an average of 2.5 years, based on cell and tissue function.
In the USC study, meals that mimicked fasting included energy bars, plant-based soups, chip snacks, energy drinks, and tea. (St. Petersburg)
“I think it’s amazing that the three cycles of FMD took place over just five days a month (15 days in total), allowing the participants to eat for the rest of the time without changing their normal diet. Modified/low-calorie, regular meals can have a profound impact on biological age, body fat, and risk factors for various diseases,” lead author University of Southern California said. Valter Longo, a professor at Leonard Davis School, told FOX News Digital.
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If this cycle were continued three times a year for 20 years, FMD could reduce your biological age by 11 years and reduce your risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes by 10% to 30%, Longo says. The doctor predicted.
“However, these are only simulations and additional studies are needed to confirm this possibility of FMD cycles,” he added.
Half of the group was randomly assigned to FMD and adhered to the diet for 5 days, followed by 3 or 4 cycles of a normal diet for 25 days. (St. Petersburg)
Bongo noted that previous studies in mice have identified further benefits of FMD, including reduced risk of age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
This diet has previously been shown to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, promote stem cell regeneration, and reduce symptoms of dementia, the release states.
What is a fasting mimic diet?
Longo’s proprietary FMD is a 5-day diet that is low in overall calories, protein, and carbohydrates, and high in unsaturated fats.
This meal plan is designed to mimic pure fasting while providing essential nutrients.
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“The Fasting Mimic Diet (FMD), also known as the Prolon Diet, has been around for about seven years and has been studied in multiple clinical trials,” says New Jersey-based dietitian Erin Palinsky-Wade. he told FOX News. Digital.
“By following a structured, very low-calorie diet, nutrition plan “The goal of the five-day fast is to provide the benefits of a long-term fast while allowing individuals to eat,” said Palinsky-Wade, who was not involved in the USC study.
“This diet is designed to transition the body into a fasting state while nourishing it with specific nutrients to avoid activation of food-sensing pathways.”
”[The diet] “It provides physical, biological and epigenetic benefits without the need for long-term water-only fasting,” the experts say. (St. Petersburg)
In the USC study, the fasting-mimicking diet included energy bars, plant-based soups, chip snacks, energy drinks, and tea, according to the release.
The FMD group also received supplements containing “high levels of minerals, vitamins, and essential fatty acids.”
The specific diets tested in the two trials are commercially available, but Longo said university rules prohibit him from publishing the names of the products.
“In an age obsessed with superficial youth and quick fixes, a diet that mimics fasting offers a concrete way to systematically reverse aging and boost metabolic health. .”
“I think it’s important to start considering the plant-based FMD interventions described here, along with the appropriate types of drugs, two to three times a year as a way to prevent and treat some diseases.” Longo said.
This could help people “return to full health and live longer and healthier lives, rather than taking medication gradually as we age,” he added.
Longo said people seeking to prevent or treat the disease by using FMD should first consult a doctor.
Other experts also weigh in on the diet.
Melanie Avalon, an Atlanta-based health influencer who hosts the “Intermittent Fasting Podcast,” was not involved in the study, but said the study does not show how dietary and lifestyle changes affect the aging process. It pointed out that it provides “hard data” on whether the
“It’s no secret that our society is obsessed with youth and longevity, but measuring progress and biological improvement is often subjective,” she told Fox News Digital. .
While fasting is often pursued for its visible weight loss effects, experts noted that this study highlights its far-reaching benefits for metabolic health. (St. Petersburg)
“The concept of ‘chronological age’ can be misleading when assessing the rate of aging of the body and predicting longevity,” Avalon continued.
“This study reveals for the first time that a diet that mimics fasting can lower biological age.”
While traditional fasting may be daunting for some, FMD may be a more viable alternative.
“This provides physical, biological, and epigenetic benefits without the need for long-term water-only fasting,” she said.
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Avalon noted that although fasting is often done for visible weight loss benefits, this study highlights FMD’s broader benefits for metabolic health.
“In an age obsessed with superficial youth and quick fixes, a diet that mimics fasting offers a concrete way to systematically reverse aging and boost metabolic health. ” she said.
“Unlike the expensive and extreme measures of ‘biohacking’, FMD offers an accessible and practical solution to reducing biological age.”
Potential risks and limitations
Tanya Freilich is a registered dietitian nutritionist. charlotte, north carolinaAs a practicing lupus nutritionist, she cautioned against recommending diets that mimic fasting for people who have suffered from eating disorders in the past or who have difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels.
“Restrictions or changes in eating patterns can have negative effects,” she says.
A diet that mimics fasting could help people “return to full health and live longer and healthier lives, rather than gradually taking medication as we age,” the study authors said. (St. Petersburg)
Palinsky-Wade agreed that people with underlying health conditions should consult their doctors before considering a dietary plan.
“Very low-calorie diets may not be appropriate for people with uncontrolled diabetes, a history of hypoglycemia, a history of eating disorders, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. “There is,” she says.
Freilich stressed the need to provide “extensive education” before making dietary changes.
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“Although changing the timing and amount of food intake are approaches worth considering, it’s also important to remember to choose health-promoting foods each day,” the nutritionist continued.
“The food choices we make every day have a huge impact on our weight, blood sugar levels, heart health, immune system, and more. If you don’t feel fasting is the right choice for you, talk to a registered dietitian about making changes to your diet. Please consult. Health is always recommended.”
A nutritionist (not pictured) told Fox News Digital that people need “extensive education” before making any changes to their diet. (St. Petersburg)
Both nutritionists noted that the study had several limitations.
“It was a small sample size of healthy, young individuals,” Freilich said. “If further studies are completed in a wider age range, including people with other medical concerns, the results could be of benefit to other people.”
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Palinsky-Wade reiterated that studies on FMD typically have smaller sample sizes in healthy adults, so the results cannot be generalized to all populations.
“While FMD may offer promising benefits and may be an excellent tool to consider for those looking to improve long-term health and reduce the risk of future disease, “Further studies in larger and more diverse populations are needed to fully understand the benefits of FMD,” she added.
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