Eating less of this food could extend lifespan, researchers say

Protein is a vital part of human diet needed to build muscle, repair tissue and power the chemical reactions that keep our bodies functioning. New products are constantly being thrown onto shelves offering protein in a variety of forms from on-the-go drinks to fortified cereal and even protein water.

However, the boom in protein products could mean some people are eating more than they should, according to a new scientific review. Published in the Cell Press Blue journal, the study discovered that for certain people, having less protein could improve their health and in some cases even extend their lifespan.

Dudley Lamming, the paper's corresponding author, University of Wisconsin-Madison, said according to News Medical: It's absolutely crystal clear that there are benefits of protein to muscle growth and exercise response of active individuals.

But because most people are relatively sedentary, many people are likely consuming more protein than they actually need, which probably has negative health consequences.

Protein is a vital nutrient and is now available in a variety of products (Image: GETTY)

Eating more protein intake has been historically linked to better muscle growth, weight loss and protection against age-related muscle loss in older adults. Its an essential part of a diet and most people are getting their recommended amount each day, which is 0.75g of protein for each kg of body weight according to the British Heart Foundation.

But most of these benefits only actually start when the people combine their protein intake with actual exercise and other diet changes like cutting calories.

The new analysis confirms that simply replacing calorific snacks with protein bars but not changing your activity habits likely wont lead to any improvement and could even be damaging.

People with sedentary lifestyles won't need to consume as much protein as those with active lifestyles (Image: GETTY)

The researchers looked at more than 350 papers to explain how restricting protein could improve health and longevity. Lamming revealed: "These studies show that the amount of protein sedentary people are eating today may have negative health consequences, at least at the population level.

The expert suggested that going forward, health experts shouldnt be urging people to eat a certain amount of protein based on their age, but rather how much exercise they do.

He said: "Recent recommendations have encouraged people to eat more protein, but they've also encouraged people to exercise more. We probably need to personalize protein recommendations based not just on age, but also on how physically active people are."