Study lists lifestyle changes that can reverse aging

• A recent study has shown that reversing the aging process is possible with simple, easy-to-follow changes to one’s lifestyle and diet.
• The results revealed that participants reduced their biological age by over three years in just eight weeks.
• The program listed instructions for diet, supplements, exercise, sleep, and stress management for the study participants to follow.

Is it possible to reverse aging? Can we really look younger naturally in a short span of time? A recent study reveals that it is possible with simple, easy-to-follow changes to one’s lifestyle and diet.

According to the study authors, balancing DNA methylation helped participants reduce their biological age by over three years in just eight weeks.

Study leader Kara Fitzgerald explained in a media release that DNA methylation has been “identified as highly predictive of biological age.” Since damage to cells over time can lead to loss of cell function, aging, and disease, reversing this process does wonders to one’s health and longevity.

The researchers monitored the participants — 43 healthy men between the ages of 50 and 72 — during a randomized controlled clinical trial for eight weeks.

A treatment program listed prescriptions for diet, supplements, exercise, sleep, and stress management for the study participants to follow.

The results showed that following these prescriptions led to “statistically significant” reductions in the biological aging of cells.

Fitzgerald said that the results were consistent with other studies that showed “the potential for biological age reversal.”

“It is unique in its use of a safe, non-pharmaceutical dietary and lifestyle program, control group, and the extent of the age reduction. We are currently enrolling participants for a larger study which we expect will corroborate these findings,” she added.

Moshe Szyf PhD, the leading epigeneticist at McGill University, adds that this natural de-aging approach could inspire new therapies which target the body’s genetic makeup, without resorting to medications.

Fitzgerald concluded, “What is extremely exciting is that food and lifestyle practices, including specific nutrients and food compounds known to selectively alter DNA methylation, are able to have such an impact on those DNA methylation patterns we know predict aging and age-related disease.”

The results of the study were published in the journal Aging.

Prescribed lifestyle habits

The prescribed diet included organic, natural foods, such as vegetables, eggs, seeds, liver, animal protein, herbs, and low-glycemic fruit. Participants were also instructed to stay hydrated, balance types of fats by including “healthy oils,” and fast between 7pm and 7am. They were told to avoid added sugar, candies, dairy, legumes or beans, and grains.

Supplements had a mix of plant enzymes, prebiotics, probiotics, organic vegetables, fruits, seeds, and herbs.

Exercise should be done at least 30 minutes each day for at least 5 days a week, “at an intensity of 60-80% of maximum perceived exertion.”

There should be at least 7 hours of sleep each night, and breathing exercises were to be done twice daily to manage stress.

Source: Study Finds