A new study finds that cutting a s little as 300 to 500 calories a day may be one key to slower aging and longevity.

Previous research has shown that lower calorie intake slows aging in rats and mice.

A new study, by Saint Louis University researchers, found a key thyroid hormone thought to be linked to aging decreases in humans when they regularly reduce caloric intake. It does not appear to matter where the calorie reduction comes from.

The study is published in journal Rejuvenation Research.

Study participants were divided into three groups; a group that cut their daily calorie intake by 300 to 500 calories per day; one that did not change their diet but exercised regularly; and one that changed neither diet or exercise routine.

Not surprisingly, folks in the calorie-restriction and exercise groups both lost body fat, however, only those in the calorie restriction group also had lower levels of the age related thyroid hormone.

“Our research provides evidence that calorie restriction does work in humans like it has been shown to work in animals,” study lead author Edward Weiss, associate professor of nutrition and dietetics at Saint Louis University’s Doisy College of Health Sciences, said in a prepared statement.

Researchers noted that the study is preliminary and should be followed up by a more comprehensive long-term research

Source
 Rejuvenation Research