It’s no secret that eating more plants is good for you (and the planet). But a new study suggests that adopting a vegan diet for just eight weeks may even turn back the clock on your biological age. The researchers found that participants following a vegan diet showed reductions in biological age estimations, as measured by a biomarker known as DNA methylation.
“DNA methylation and other epigenetic modifications work like a volume knob for our genes, turning their activity up or down,” Dr Lucia Aronica, co-author of the study, told BBC Science Focus.
“As we grow older, the pattern of these methyl groups on our DNA changes in specific ways, which scientists can track to understand ageing better. By studying these patterns, researchers can determine someone’s biological age, which might be different from their actual age based on years.”