Cutting your calorie intake by just 12 percent is enough to boost your energy and rejuvenate muscles leading to a longer life.
Ditching calories whilst maintaining vitamin and mineral levels, known as a calorie restriction diet, also lowers inflammation and increases metabolism.
A study from the National Institute on Aging (NIH) says the diet stimulates healthy aging genes allowing us to live longer, healthier lives.
Calorie reduction has long been known to delay the progression of age-related illness in animals but the study, published in the journal Aging Cell, suggests this may also apply to humans.
For the study, scientists used thigh muscle biopsies from participants that were collected when individuals joined the study and at one-year and two-year follow-ups.
The group of volunteers studied by the NIH set out to cut their calorie intake by 25 percent across two years but only managed 12 percent.
However, the researchers found even this slight reduction in calories was enough to activate most of the biological pathways that are important in healthy aging.
Corresponding author and Scientific Director at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Dr. Luigi Ferrucci said: “A 12 percent reduction in calorie intake is very modest.
“This kind of small reduction in calorie intake is doable and may make a big difference in your health.”
Previous studies have shown that when on a calorie restriction diet people lose an average of 20 pounds of weight in the first year and manage to maintain that weight for the second year.
Also, despite losing significant muscle mass participants maintained all their muscle strength.
The research discovered that when consuming fewer calories participants experienced lower inflammation, boosted energy, muscle rejuvenation and faster metabolism.
Dr. Ferrucci said: “Since inflammation and aging are strongly coupled, calorie restriction represents a powerful approach to preventing the pro-inflammatory state that is developed by many older people.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
Edited by Saba Fatima and Newsdesk Manager
