This could give the Mediterranean diet a run for its money.
Opting for a healthy diet has long been recognized as a means to safeguard heart health and mitigate the risks of cardiovascular ailments. Various dietary approaches such as the Mediterranean diet, Paleo diet, DASH diet, and plant-based diets have shown promise in bolstering cardiovascular wellness.
A fresh investigation from the University of Southern California distinguishes the fasting-mimicking diet as a unique contributor to heart health compared to the well-regarded Mediterranean diet. Recently published in the journal Npj Metabolic Health and Disease, the study delves into the distinctive cardiovascular benefits offered by the fasting-mimicking diet.
Dr. Valter D. Longo, the lead author and Edna M. Jones Chair in Gerontology and professor at the USC Leonard David School of Gerontology, outlined the fasting-mimicking diet as a 5-day vegan regimen that triggers responses in the body akin to water-only fasting. He clarified that participants resume their regular diet for the remainder of the month after the 5-day fasting-mimicking period.
The focal point of this diet revolves around consuming low-calorie, low-protein, and high-fat plant-based foods. Unlike intermittent fasting, individuals on the fasting-mimicking diet continue eating during the designated “fasting” period.
Previously explored for its potential in cancer treatment, including aiding in tumor growth deceleration and enhancing susceptibility to chemotherapy in certain cancers like colorectal and hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, the fasting-mimicking diet has also piqued interest in managing multiple sclerosis, cardiometabolic disease, autoimmune conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, skin issues, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Longo stressed that the study sought to compare the fasting-mimicking diet’s effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular disease risk among adults with obesity and hypertension against the widely accepted Mediterranean diet due to the challenge most individuals face in altering their dietary habits.
The research involved 84 participants with a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or higher, a marker of overweight or obesity. Scientists assessed their reactive hyperemia index (RHI) and small and large arterial compliance (AC1/AC2) to gauge blood pressure.
Over four months, half the participants followed the fasting-mimicking diet while the others adhered to the Mediterranean diet. Analysis revealed that those on the fasting-mimicking diet exhibited a decline in their RHI, indicative of potential heart rejuvenation, although larger studies are warranted for conclusive evidence.
Notably, the fasting-mimicking group displayed reduced biological age, heart age, and scores on the Protein Unstable Lesion Signature (PULS) cardiac test, gauging a 5-year stroke risk, in contrast to the Mediterranean group. Furthermore, the fasting-mimicking participants showed decreased trunk fat mass without losing lean muscle mass, unlike their counterparts on the Mediterranean diet. The latter experienced a decline in lean muscle mass, underscoring the unique benefits of the fasting-mimicking diet in reducing fat mass without compromising muscle mass.
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