Cutting protein intake may be important to longevity

Evidence already showed us that a lower-calorie diet could prolong life expectancy and lead to better health, but researchers at the Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis found that diet composition may be a much more critical factor than calorie consumption, particularly the amount of protein in the diet. The average Western diet consists of 30-40% more protein than the USDA-recommended amount, and the researchers suspect that high protein consumption is linked to production of insulin-like growth factor, or IGF-1. IGF-1 can stimulate cell growth, leading to cancer, metabolic problems and premature aging. Full Story: Science News