Diet and exercise strategies that may lower your 'biological age'

New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier or exercise more might have the added benefit of helping to reduce one's “biological age,” some recent research suggests.

New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier or exercise more may have an added benefit beyond physical fitness or weight loss: A spate of studies published over the last year suggest that certain diet and exercise regimens might help reduce a person’s “biological age.”

The term refers to indicators of one’s physiological health, rather than how many birthdays they’ve had. Although the measurement can’t predict how long an individual will live, the idea is to assess where someone’s body is in the aging process based on factors like cell damage, organ function or cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Recent research offers additional evidence that certain habits already known to be healthy — like following a plant-based diet, staying active throughout the day and doing weekly strength training — could stave off some negative health effects associated with aging. 

However, biological aging is a complex process, and experts caution that stress, chronic illness, smoking and a person’s genetics can all complicate the picture. Plus, they said, there are many reasons to get regular exercise and eat a nutrient-rich diet beyond turning back the biological clock.

Nonetheless, here is what five studies published in the last year have found about the links between diet, exercise and aging.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/aging/diet-exercise-strategies-lower-biological-age-rcna185793

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