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Making One Diet Change For 8 Weeks Could Turn Back The Clock on Aging
Science Alert ^ | JULY 31, 2024 | David Nield

Posted on 07/31/2024 9:50:06 AM PDT by Red Badger

A new study suggests it doesn't take long for a diet free of animal products to slow biological aging rates, with the heart, liver, and hormonal and inflammatory systems all benefitting from the temporary change.

Led by a team from the Stanford University School of Medicine, the study analyzed the rate of DNA methylation; a kind of reversible genetic modification which is often used as an indicator of how quickly the body is wearing out.

Among a group of 21 pairs of identical twins, one of each pair adhered to a vegan diet over the course of eight weeks, while their twin's diet included meat and dairy products. After that time, those on a vegan diet showed decreases in estimates of biological age.

"This study suggests that a short‑term vegan diet is associated with epigenetic age benefits and reduced calorie intake," the researchers write in their published paper.

"The use of epigenetic biomarker proxies (EBPs) highlights their potential for assessing dietary impacts and facilitating personalized nutrition strategies for healthy aging."

Comparatively less biological aging was observed in the heart and liver, as well as in tissues making up the hormonal, inflammatory, and metabolic systems, suggesting the body wasn't aging quite as quickly on the vegan diet.

The non-vegan diet included 170-225 grams of meat, one egg, and one-and-a-half servings of dairy each day. In both groups, the participants ate prepared meals for the first four weeks, and then meals they made themselves based on nutritionist advice for the second four weeks, so both diets were considered healthy.

In addition to the differences in DNA markers, those on the vegan diet also lost an average of two kilograms more than those on an omnivorous diet, making it difficult to rule out the influence of caloric restriction or weight-loss on observed biological aging.

There are some caveats to bear in mind: the study involves a relatively small sample size, and doesn't take into account the risk of nutrient deficiency that can come along with a plant-based diet over the longer term. This particular study was also partly financed by Beyond Meat, a company producing plant-based alternatives to meat, as well as the Vogt Foundation, which invests in projects to protect animals and promote plant-based products.

The researchers themselves admit the relationship between diet differences and biological aging remains unclear. As yet, there's no evidence that vegans live longer.

Still, it's an interesting insight into how quickly changes in a diet can lead to positive impacts in the body. The research follows on from a similar study last year, which found that eight weeks of a vegan diet could lead to benefits in cardiovascular health.

"Future research should explore the long‑term effects of vegan diets on epigenetic health and overall wellbeing, considering the importance of proper nutrient supplementation," write the researchers.

The research has been published in BMC Medicine:

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03513-w


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: aging; animalproducts; animalprotein; beyondmeat; charlesvogt; charleyvogt; cheese; dairy; diet; egg; ftx; meat; milk; netflix; stanfordu; stanforduniversity; thegamechanger; vaganism; veganazis; veganism; vegans; vogt; vogtfoundation
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To: Red Badger

“partly financed by Beyond Meat”

I’m suspicious.


21 posted on 07/31/2024 10:37:36 AM PDT by SharpRightTurn (“Giving money & power to government is like giving whiskey & car keys to teenage boys” P.J. O’Rourke)
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To: BOARn

I break fast every morning. :)


22 posted on 07/31/2024 10:38:02 AM PDT by ChessExpert (Scarborough: "This is the Best Biden ever.")
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To: Red Badger

Imma have to call BS on this one. 😂


23 posted on 07/31/2024 10:43:31 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Red Badger

Vegans still die younger than meat eaters, right?


24 posted on 07/31/2024 10:46:49 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: Red Badger

Stanford U is behind a lot of whackadoodle stuff... such as the Russia hoax...


25 posted on 07/31/2024 10:47:24 AM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: ClearCase_guy

The way things are going WHY the hell would I want to extend my life? I would rather be in the arms of my Heavenly Father then facing literally hell here on earth.


26 posted on 07/31/2024 10:49:38 AM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: ASOC

Ralph’s had tri-tip roasts on sale last week, at $4.99/lb. I bought four, about three pounds each.

I’ve been on the zero carb carnivore diet the last six years. Mostly beef, an occasional pork roast or chick thighs.

Stay away from anything in a package or has a nutritional label.


27 posted on 07/31/2024 10:49:44 AM PDT by JohnnyP (Thinking is hard work (I stole that from Rush).)
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To: ClearCase_guy

“This particular study was also partly financed by Beyond Meat, a company producing plant-based alternatives to meat, as well as the Vogt Foundation, which invests in projects to protect animals and promote plant-based products.”


28 posted on 07/31/2024 10:51:35 AM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: Red Badger

The exact opposite is true. Man lived millions of years eating meat. Metabolic disease skyrocketed with the introduction of seed oils. Soon shelves filled with processed foods full of toxic seed oils. People who eat processed foods get as much as 30% calories from industrial waste seed oil.

Want to live longer? Eat food. Eat cholesterol. Meat, eggs and fresh veggies. Caveman didn’t eat oatmeal and ding dongs.


29 posted on 07/31/2024 10:52:56 AM PDT by IamConservative (I was nervous like the third chimp in line for the Ark after the rain started.)
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To: Red Badger

What they tracked is starvation. When you starve biological processes slow down. This is part of the leftist narrative that death is “humane” and good for the planet.


30 posted on 07/31/2024 10:54:03 AM PDT by Varda
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To: piasa

Vogt Foundation...as in Charley Vogt.

Netflix feeds viewers with vegan propaganda in ‘biased’ new series
Jan 4, 2024 — Charley Vogt, Secretary-Treasurer at Vogt, says the Foundation funds “organizations that protect animals and promote plant-based products.” The ...


31 posted on 07/31/2024 10:59:58 AM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: ClearCase_guy
So I figure it’s BS.

And you're TOTALLY RIGHT... IT IS BULL$HIT!

32 posted on 07/31/2024 11:02:24 AM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: ClearCase_guy

Stanford...same place that gave us censorship to “protect us from misinformation.”


33 posted on 07/31/2024 11:03:37 AM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: Red Badger

Carnivore and keto dieters will disagree. There are many documented cases of the efficacy of both.


34 posted on 07/31/2024 11:14:12 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: ClearCase_guy

But, not one word about spending SNAP nenefits on Fruit Loops, Doritoes or Sunny D?

My ancestors lived on red meat- many cured and harvested their own. Many lived until their 90’s.


35 posted on 07/31/2024 11:31:23 AM PDT by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: JohnnyP

Getting ready to go that route myself!


36 posted on 07/31/2024 11:34:01 AM PDT by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: Red Badger

Dairy is often fortified with synthetic folic acid, which some people cannot metabolize and their methylation rate goes down (synth Folic acid displaces the needed follate).
Plus, dairy and animal proteins are typically loaded with hormones, antibiotics etc.


37 posted on 07/31/2024 11:39:37 AM PDT by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
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To: Red Badger
The non-vegan diet included 170-225 grams of meat, one egg, and one-and-a-half servings of dairy each day.

That explains it! Those on a "non-vegan diet" suffered because their diet didn't contain enough meat!

Seriously: What kind of meat?

Spam?

Regards,

38 posted on 07/31/2024 11:46:22 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: Red Badger

BeeeeeeeeSssssssssss


39 posted on 07/31/2024 11:49:20 AM PDT by GrumpyOldGuy
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To: BOARn
I started fasting years ago and eat one balanced meal a day. That along with exercise changed my life forever.

I started fasting three decades ago, and eat only four balanced meals a day.

(I balance them on my knees while watching t.v.)

That along with solving the Sunday crossword puzzle of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung changed my life forever.

And maybe, someday, I'll finally be able to finish solving that one Sunday crossword puzzle of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung I've been working on since July 25, 1982.

Regards,

40 posted on 07/31/2024 11:52:39 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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