Dietary changes later in life can delay aging in just 4 weeks, research has found
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Researchers have found that changing your diet – even later in life – can delay the aging process by as little as one month.
Researchers at the University of Sydney gave 104 participants aged 65-75 one of four meals. Two diets were omnivorous and included protein from both animals and plants. Both included 70% protein from plant sources.
DOCTOR SHARES 3 SIMPLE CHANGES TO STAY HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT AS YOU AGE
One omnivorous diet was high in fat, while the other emphasized carbohydrates. The two semi-vegetarian diets were divided in the same way. All four foods received 14 percent of energy from protein.
“Biological age” basically means how old the body appears to be based on health indicators, called biomarkers, rather than how old a person actually is.
Researchers at the University of Sydney found that dietary changes had an effect on the lifespan of biological populations after four weeks. (iStock/Getty Images)
Scientists measured 20 different biomarkers, including cholesterol levels and insulin levels, in participants to determine how short-term dietary changes affect biological aging.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“Although chronological age increases in the same way, biological aging varies between people, reflecting differences in health status and physical fitness,” said a University of Sydney report on the study’s findings.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFE NEWSLETTER
According to the report, biomarker profiles “are generally considered a better indicator of overall health and potential longevity than chronological age.”
Older adults who ate a diet rich in complex carbohydrates and a plant-based diet shortened their life expectancy, scientists found. (iStock/Getty Images)
Scientists found that after four weeks, the age of biological participants in three food groups decreased. The age of the high-fat only omnivorous dieters “did not show a significant change.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS
The study, “Short-Term Dietary Intervention Alters Physiological Profiles Relevant to Aging,” published in Aging Cell, concluded that the most prominent improvement came from “a diet rich in complex carbohydrates and plant-based components.”
Participants who ate a diet high in saturated fat saw no changes in their biological age, although all other types of diet reduced theirs in the University of Sydney study. (iStock/Getty Images)
The research team cautioned that these results are preliminary and may only represent short-term results.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
“It’s too soon to say for sure that certain changes in diet will increase your health,” said Caitlin Andrews, who led the study. “But this study provides the first indication of the potential benefits of dietary changes later in life.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.
