A two-year clinical trial found that making one simple dietary tweak – reducing your total caloric intake by 12% – could reduce your “biological age” by the same percentage as smoking cessation!
To put that in perspective, 12% is roughly the equivalent of skipping your afternoon snack or saying no to that second glass of wine at dinner. Hardly a matter of going hungry to the point of misery.
The research comes from the CALERIE trial (Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy), a federally funded study that followed 220 adults between ages 21 and 50. Participants had body mass indexes in the normal to slightly overweight range—so these weren’t people trying to lose a considerable amount of weight.
Key Takeaways From This Study:
The two-year clinical trial found that caloric reduction (CR) of just 12% slowed biological aging by 2% to 3%, which is roughly comparable to the longevity boost you’d get from quitting smoking.
In addition:
- Slight loss of muscle tissue by the participants did not reduce strength. In fact, muscles became stronger and more efficient.
- Participants saw a reduction in systemic inflammation.
- The two years of CR significantly improved multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors.
- CR improved metabolic and immune responses in participants.
While these results are clearly positive, the researchers stress that anyone should consult with their primary doctor before starting a reduced calorie diet.
You can read the complete CALERIE trial, which was published in Nature Aging, by clicking on the link.