It lasts only two months.. A diet that offers amazing benefits
A new study published in the journal BMC Medicine has revealed a specific diet that offers amazing benefits, most notably reducing the biological aging of humans and helping with weight loss.
Scientists have found that following a vegetarian diet for just 8 weeks contributes to reducing the age of the heart, hormones, liver, inflammatory and metabolic systems, as reported by Russia Today.
These changes were not observed in participants whose diet included meat, eggs and dairy products, according to the research team at Stanford University, California.
During the study, people who followed a vegetarian diet lost an average of 2 kg more weight than those who did not.
However, this is likely due to them consuming 200 fewer calories per day, in the meals provided during the first four weeks.
Scientists say weight loss may have contributed to the observed differences in biological age between the two groups, rather than the nature of the food itself, especially since some experts find that a vegetarian diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies in the long term and may not be suitable for all ages.
The findings are based on a small study of 21 pairs of identical twins (aged 39), half of whom followed a vegetarian diet and the other half a vegan diet.
By the end of the study, the team noticed a decrease in estimates of biological age based on levels of DNA methylation (a type of chemical modification to DNA used to estimate biological age).
Biological aging refers to the decline in the function of tissues and cells in the body, as opposed to natural age. Previous research has reported that increased levels of DNA methylation are associated with aging.
The research team said more research is needed to investigate the relationship between diet, weight and aging, as well as the long-term effects of plant-based diets.
Tom Sanders, emeritus professor of nutrition at King's College London, who was not involved in the study, said the research found some differences in ageing for vegetarians, but did not take into account the fact that vitamin and mineral deficiencies often take years to develop.
“Although observational studies suggest that plant-based diets may have positive effects on health in midlife (such as reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes), this is not the case for older vegetarians who appear to be more likely to suffer from muscle loss, decreased bone density and neurological disorders that have a significant impact on quality of life. In fact, life expectancy is no different in vegetarians compared to those who choose mixed diets,” he added.
Source: websites