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Two pieces of raw beef tenderloin with sprigs of rosemaryMillions of Americans, including middle-aged and older Americans, have a very protein-rich diet.

But now, new studies have found something very interesting – while this type of diet may shorten the life spans of people who are middle-aged, the very same diet may help extend an older person’s life.

“The research shows that a low-protein diet in middle age is useful for preventing cancer and overall mortality [death],” study co-author Eileen Crimmins, the AARP Chair in Gerontology at the University of Southern California, said in a university news release. “However, we also propose that at older ages, it may be important to avoid a low-protein diet to allow the maintenance of healthy weight and protection from frailty.”

The study findings were published March 4 in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Bad For 50-Year-Olds…

It found that 50-year-olds who got more than 20 percent of their calories from animal protein, particularly meat and dairy products had an increased risk of death from cancer or diabetes. This increased risk of death was much lower, or even non-existent, for 50-year-olds who ate a diet high in protein sourced mainly from plants.

Eating Steak Over 50: Good Or Bad? Or Both?  was originally published on elev8.com

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