A new scientific review suggests that cutting protein intake, rather than reducing overall calories, could offer an easier route to a longer, healthier life for people who are largely sedentary. Calorie restriction has long been linked to improved lifespan and lower rates of age-related disease, but many people struggle to sustain strict low-calorie diets, prompting researchers to look at whether adjusting specific nutrients could achieve similar benefits.

The review, published in the journal Cell Press Blue, examined more than 350 existing studies and found that targeted protein restriction appeared to produce metabolic benefits comparable to those of calorie restriction, without requiring the same overall reduction in food intake. The findings point to protein intake, rather than total calorie count, as a potentially more manageable dietary lever for supporting healthy ageing, particularly among those with inactive lifestyles.