There are many things that can shorten our lives. In particular, many kinds of food are bad for us. A new study suggests eating protein could make us age faster. This is the opposite to what we have been told for decades. Scientists usually tell us that eating meat and dairy products helps us to live longer. The new study is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the USA. Researchers found that a high-protein diet without exercise leads to an increase in body fat in only four months. Professor Dudley Lamming said: "People who are eating more protein tend to have higher rates of developing cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even potentially a shorter lifespan."

Protein is an essential part of our diet. It is made up of amino acids. These help us build muscle and keep our bodies strong. We can find protein in many foods, including in meat, fish, dairy products, and eggs. If people eat a vegetarian diet, they can find protein in beans, lentils, nuts, and tofu. In many parts of the world, people are eating too much protein. Supermarkets are full of protein-packed food, protein powder, and energy bars. Consuming these could be reducing our longevity. Professor Lamming said: "Because most people are relatively sedentary, they are likely consuming more protein than they actually need, which probably has negative health consequences."