Vegetarian diet key to long life: Study

Reducing consumption of a specific protein found in fish, meat and certain nuts could slow the ageing process and increase life expectancy, according to a recent research. Read on to know more.

A vegetarian diet could be the key to a long life, a new study said.

Reducing consumption of a specific protein found in fish, meat and certain nuts could slow the ageing process and increase life expectancy, according to the research. British researchers carried out a series of experiments on fruit flies and discovered that simply varying the mix of amino acids in the diet affected lifespan.

The study further found that one particular amino acid, methionine, made all the difference,

The Telegraph

reported. Methionine is essential to the formation of all proteins.It is naturally abundant in foods such as fish and meats as well as sesame seeds, brazil nuts and wheat germ.

Although flies and people are very different, the researchers believe the effects are likely to be conserved throughout a wide range of different species including humans. The team is of the opinion that by reducing foods that contain the protein, people should live longer without the need to cut down on meals.

The key to long life is reduction in specific protein and not the total number of calories, the study said.