Eating fewer calories can help the body function better and slow down the aging process. This is because when there is less food, cells activate a type of maintenance program called autophagy. During this process, cells remove waste and damaged parts, which benefits health.
Scientists investigated a diet with less of the essential amino acid methionine, which was previously considered important for these positive effects. Essential amino acids are building blocks of proteins that the body cannot make itself and must obtain through food. However, new research shows that it is primarily the restriction of the related amino acid cysteine that causes these benefits.
Cysteine is an amino acid that the body can partly produce itself from methionine. In a diet with low methionine levels, the cysteine content also decreases. Studies in animals that have eliminated the conversion of methionine into cysteine confirm that it is mainly the low cysteine concentration that makes the body more resilient and contributes to better health in old age.
This observed effect of cysteine restriction can be especially important in stimulating the immune system and improving metabolism. Such changes help to age without serious health problems.
These insights make it clear that not only calorie restriction but also adjusting the amino acid composition in the diet can be important for healthy aging.
Source: Reason
