SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) Converts to the trending paleolithic diet say the eating habits of our caveman ancestors, along with exercising and getting enough sleep, will keep your body running smoothly well into your golden years.
This is a diet that would be good for anybody, said UCSF nephrologist Dr. Lynda Frassetto, who has been studying the paleo diet for years.
CBS 5 HealthWatch Series On Paleo Diet
A key factor, according to Frassetto, is limiting the level of acid in the body. Acids, which are regulated by the kidneys, tend to build up as people grow older and their kidneys work less well.
But paleo proponents believe that the right diet can bring acids back into balance. Specifically, this means eating more fruits and vegetables, the so-called base foods, and eating fewer animal proteins and grains, which are high-acid foods.
When you look at things like what do hunter-gatherers and chimpanzees eat, you get a diet that has meat in it, and a lot of fruits and vegetables, and no dairy products and no grains, explained Frassetto.
Video: Should Everyone Eat A Paleo Diet? Lynda Frassetto, MD
There is also some evidence that a healthy diet, along with exercise and stress reduction, can help protect a key ingredient in the aging process called telomeres.
Telomeres are the protective caps on the ends of the chromosomes, explained Dr Elizabeth Blackburn, a 2009 Nobel Laureate. If the caps are eroded away, the cells will stop replenishing.
But it turns out that telomeres are dynamic they can change, and the choices people make can affect that change.
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HealthWatch: Can Paleo Diet Extend Your Life?
