Can food bring back your youth?

A recent study indicates that deliberate dietary changes may contribute to reducing biological age within a short period not exceeding four weeks, an indication that the impact of diet on body health may be faster and deeper than previously thought.

According to what was reported by the “Verywell Health” website, the study showed that diets rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber, such as whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, while reducing processed foods and animal fats, achieved the best results in reducing indicators of biological aging.

The study included 104 people between the ages of 65 and 75 years, who were divided into four different food groups, which included high-fat or high-carbohydrate diets, whether relying on animal products or semi-vegetarian diets.

The results showed that the group that followed a diet high in complex carbohydrates recorded a significant decrease in biological age, while the group that followed a high-fat diet, which was closest to their usual dietary pattern, showed no significant changes. The semi-vegetarian groups also achieved improvement to varying degrees.

University of Helsinki researcher David Goldman said that the most effective dietary patterns included increasing complex carbohydrates and fiber, along with reducing animal proteins and saturated fats, noting that switching from the usual diet was a major factor in the results.

The concept of biological age is based on measuring the body’s health status at the cellular level, using vital indicators such as blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, according to a scientific method known as “KDM,” in addition to the “δAge” index, which measures the difference between biological age and chronological age.

Researcher Mahtab Jaafari indicated that nutritional interventions may be more effective in the elderly, considering that the results reinforce the idea that improving the diet can quickly reflect on indicators of aging.

Despite these results, the researchers stressed that the study is limited in terms of sample size and duration of follow-up, and cannot be considered conclusive evidence, but it supports the growing evidence about the benefits of vegetarian or semi-vegetarian diets rich in fiber, similar to the Mediterranean diet, in improving general health and reducing inflammation.