New study warns protein-maxxing may be aging you as expert reveals key missing nutrient

Proteinmaxxing may now be a thing of the past.Recent research has found that reducing protein intake could potentially improve metabolism, reduce inflammation and even help prevent cellular damage associated with aging.The review, published last month in Cell Press Blue, considered over 350 studies, examining the hallmarks of protein and amino acid restriction in aging and longevity.

Ultimately, the article concluded that protein restriction “not only extends lifespan but also extends healthspan across diverse species.”One important caveat: The review was focused on the potential effects of consuming too much protein — and what happens when you eat less, or restrict intake.The Post consulted board-certified holistic nutritionist Katelyn Bedford Pagliuso to better understand what readers should take away from the research — and how to optimize protein intake, along with other key nutrients, to support healthy aging.“The emerging longevity research raises questions about whether chronically high protein intake, particularly certain amino acids, could continuously stimulate nutrient-sensing pathways such as mTOR and IGF-1 and potentially influence cellular aging,” Bedford explained.She points out that the potential benefits and drawbacks of protein intake depend heavily on factors such as age, activity level and overall health.In Bedford’s opinion, the emerging research should be “interpreted less as ‘eat less protein’ and more as ‘more protein is not automatically better.’”Another key consideration, according to Bedford, is looking at the rest of the diet, especially fiber intake.

Fiber may get less attention than protein, but she notes that it plays a key role in healthy aging as well.In fact, research published in the National Library of Medicine has also found an association between higher dietary fiber intake and lower mortality from cancers.Most people already understand that fiber is a plant-based nutrient that supports digestive hea...