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A team of researchers revealed that eating in a certain manner that mimics fasting considerably reduces risk factors for aging in healthy people. The researchers from the Longevity Institute at UCLA led by Dr. Min Wei tested the effects of the fasting-mimicking diet for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other health conditions.
Fasting-Mimicking Diet Trials
Called FMD, the fasting-mimicking diet is low in protein, calories, and sugars but high in unsaturated fats. During the trials, 52 participants took the FMD diet for five days each month, eating normally the rest of the time, while 48 subjects did not consume the FMD diet for the whole month. After three months, the participants switched food plans. Even though all subjects have been previously deemed healthy, some of them had low levels of good cholesterol, high blood pressure, and a range of other risk factors.
Findings
The study conducted on 71 participants has been recently published in detail in the journal Science Translational Medicine. According to the researcher’s findings, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body mass index (BMI) improved for the participants who consumed the fasting-mimicking diet 5 days a month. Some side effects were recorded, but were only mild, including headaches, fatigue, and weakness.
Even though University of California’s Dr. Valter Longo acknowledged the FMD reduced risk factors in patients prone to diabetes, cancer, or heart disease, he said further FDA trials will need to confirm the diet’s efficiency in preventing and treating said disorders.
Manufacturer’s Note
L-Nutra’s CEO, Dr. Joseph Anton, who designed the fasting-mimicking food plan told Reuters Health via a written statement that the diet has been designed for overweight and obese individuals who want to get a grasp on their weight in a healthy way, individuals who want to improve their overall health and wellbeing, and for those who battle age-related conditions or have abnormal levels of biomarkers for aging.
However, he recommends those who already suffer from diabetes, weight-related conditions, cancer, heart disease, or obesity should first consult with their healthcare provider before using the fasting-mimicking diet. Obviously, he said, the products is not recommended for pregnant women or children under the age of 18.
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