Plant Based Diet Helps Reduce Premature Aging and Disease Risk

Twenty-four men participating in a prostate cancer study switched to a plant-based diet and added daily exercise and relaxation techniques. Among other beneficial effects that were reported, the intervention led to increased levels of telomerase, an enzyme that protects and repairs DNA. Blood levels of telomerase increased by an average of 29% during the study.

All of the research subjects had prostate cancer and were required to change their lifestyles. The men took part in regular exercise including workouts which lasted for 30 minutes each, 6 days a week. They were also required to engage in an hour of meditation or relaxing every day. Regarding diet, they could only get 10% of their calories from fat. Food intake was primarily limited to whole foods, fruits, and vegetables.