Is being vegan the key?
A recent study suggests that a vegan diet might slow biological aging. Researchers from TruDiagnostic, led by Varun Dwaraka, compared the effects of vegan and omnivorous diets on biological age in identical twins. The study involved 21 pairs of twins, with one twin in each pair following a vegan diet and the other consuming an omnivorous diet that included meat, eggs, and dairy.
The twins were given prepared meals for the first four weeks of the study and then made their own meals based on nutrition guidance for the remaining four weeks. The results indicated that those on a vegan diet showed a decrease in biological age as measured by epigenetic aging clocks, while the omnivorous twins did not exhibit similar reductions.
In addition to slower cellular aging, the vegan participants experienced improvements in age-related metrics concerning the heart, hormonal balance, liver function, inflammation, and metabolism. They also lost more weight, averaging over four pounds more than their omnivorous counterparts, largely due to differences in caloric content of the meals provided.
The researchers emphasized the need for further studies to explore the connection between diet and aging in greater depth and to assess the long-term health impacts of a vegan diet. This research adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting potential benefits of plant-based eating on aging and overall health.
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