'Feast-and-famine diet' could help in extending lifespan

A new research has found that feast-and-famine diet extends the lifespan of an individual and prevents from the age-related diseases.

The research led by University Of Florida explained that skipping meals or simply reducing overall caloric intake helps in increasing the life span, but maintaining a fasting diet everyday was usually difficult for people.

Martin Wegman, co-author said that people can't under-eat for their whole life, that's why their team came with a concept of intermittent fasting, and observed that it caused a slight increase to SIRT 3, a well-known gene that promotes longevity.

The research on the other hand noticed that the intermittent fasting decreased insulin levels in the research participants, which meant that the diet could have an anti-diabetic effect as well, and when antioxidants were supplemented on top of the diet, sirtuin proteins increase disappeared.

Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, a co-author concluded that there need to be some pain, some inflammation, some oxidative stress for some regeneration or repair, to increase the lifespan.

The research is published in the journal Rejuvenation Research.