New research from Stanford University shows that a plant-based diet can support DNA methylation and potentially reduce biological age.Stanford University’s new findings show that a plant-based diet reverses biological aging.
Published in BMC Medicine, the study found that eating plant-based foods for eight weeks might lower biological age. This effect was not seen with an omnivorous diet over the same period.
Biological aging is different from just counting years. It’s about the real health of your body. Moreover, this study suggests that what you eat can influence how young your body feels.
Let’s explore what biological aging means and how this plant-based diet could impact it.
Understanding Biological Aging
Biological age is not the same as chronological age. Chronological age is the number of years you have lived whereas biological age is about how well your body functions. It depends on factors like organ health, inflammation, and metabolic function.
DNA methylation plays a big role here. It involves adding small chemical tags called methyl groups to DNA. These tags help control gene activity and affect how your cells work. This process is crucial for managing aging and disease.
Additional Findings From The Stanford Study
The study was initially published in 2023 and featured in a 2024 Netflix documentary called You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.
The Stanford study also looked at other health factors. It compared twins who followed a plant-based diet to those who ate an omnivorous diet.
The plant-based diet group had lower levels of LDL cholesterol, which is linked to heart disease. They also had more beneficial gut bacteria.
Christopher Gardner, PhD, the study’s senior author, said, “Following identical twins was a groundbreaking way to assert that a vegan diet is healthier than the conventional diet.”
Gardner added, “[The research] suggests that anyone who chooses a vegan diet can improve their long-term health in two months, with the most change seen in the first month.”
The Growing Evidence For Plant-Based Diets And Longevity
This study contributes to a growing body of evidence that plant-based diet reverses biological aging. In the Blue Zones, regions where people live the longest and healthiest lives, plant-based foods are common.
In contrast, the Standard American Diet is high in red meat and processed foods. This diet is linked to higher risks of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Dan Buettner, who studies the Blue Zones, says, “Overall, the best thing we can do, longevity-wise, to add another six-to-10 years to life is to learn how to cook a whole-food, plant-based diet at home.” Gardner agrees, noting that a plant-based diet is beneficial for longevity.
