A new study has shown that a diet which limits protein-rich foods that naturally contain high levels of sulfur amino acids, could lead to longer life with fewer chronic diseases.
The new research revealed that following a diet that limits protein-rich foods with high sulfur amino acids content can reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease and potentially result to better health and longer life. These foods include  meats, dairy, nuts and soy.
John Richie, a professor of public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, said: "For decades it has been understood that diets restricting sulfur amino acids were beneficial for longevity in animals."
"This study provides the first epidemiologic evidence that excessive dietary intake of sulfur amino acids may be related to chronic disease outcomes in humans," Richie claimed.
Several studies have examined the role of methionine and cysteine, two of the body's nine essential amino acids which contain sulfur and found that restricting foods high in dietary sulfur amino acids delayed aging and increased lifespans in test tubes and animal studies.
In the current study, published in the journal Lancet EClinical Medicine, the researchers examined the diets and blood biomarkers of more than 11,000 participants collected by a nutritional health survey of Americans done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Co-author Xiang Gao, director of the nutritional epidemiology lab at Penn State University, mentioned that results indicated that Americans appear to be eating 2.5 times the amount of sulfur amino acid than the estimated nutritional requirement.
Gao said: "Many people in the United States consume a diet rich in meat and dairy products. Therefore, it is not surprising that many are surpassing the average requirement when considering these foods contain higher amounts of sulfur amino acids."
Lead author Zhen Dong pointed out: "People who eat lots of plant-based products like fruits and vegetables will consume lower amounts of sulfur amino acids. These results support some of the beneficial health effects observed in those who eat vegan or other plant-based diets."
