Aging does you less good and more harm. Unless you focus on healthy aging with beneficial diets and exercising, then you could age healthily and happily with no worries in sight. In the world of social media, most people turn to trends to figure out a good diet that will keep them healthy or just continue with their existing one as it isn't particularly unhealthy.

Now, a longevity expert has revealed the best diets for healthy aging and his suggestions might shock you to change your current diet completely. Dr Joseph Antoun, a longevity expert, revealed to The Post that too much protein is actually not good for the body.

While the nutrient is essential for muscle maintenance and overall health, excess consumption of it could actually be reducing years of your life. “Animal proteins are rich in arginine, and leucine and contain specific sequences of amino acids that stimulate IGF-1 secretion, whereas an equivalent quantity of plant-based proteins are less likely to trigger the same amount of IGF-1,” he said.

IGF-1 is an important hormone


IGF-1, a hormone produced in the liver plays a vital role in promoting growth and regulating metabolism. It's crucial for building muscle when you are young and especially when you are older when the muscle loss accelerates.

Since the levels of the hormone reduce over time, it's important to maintain it to support well-being. Antoun thus advises including a certain amount of meat in a plant-based diet before the age of 30 and after the age of 65.

"When the body’s food absorption capability begins to decrease and the muscle becomes an essential organ for longevity.”

Plant-based proteins should be in focus
Between the ages of 30 and 65, the doctor advises visiting the salad bar more than the steak table. In this age frame, consuming mainly plant-based proteins is advised. Thus, add in foods like beans, legumes, nuts and seeds.

“The Longevity Diet emphasizes plant-based protein consumption to support lean muscle mass and reduce inflammation, which are important for both heart and metabolic health,” he said.

Plant-based diets such as pescatarian, Mediterranean, flexitarian and vegan are linked to healthy aging.

However, not all animal proteins are the same, According to Antoun, Red meat, chicken and fish contain various percentages of leucine and arginine- two amino acids that play vital roles in muscle growth. “Red meat is also high in saturated fats, while fish contains healthier, unsaturated fats.”