Academics at the University of Southern California (USC) has developed a new diet, known as the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD). The diet requires to starve for five days to witness the maximum effect. But there is catch here that will make it possible to follow the diet, which is to follow it for four times in year.

The diet will reduce risk of heart disease and cancer and will boost our immune systems. By following this diet, people will be able to lose weight as well as look younger.

One of the researchers behind the diet is Prof Valter Longo, Professor in Gerontology and Biological Science at the USC, was of the view, "Strict fasting is hard for people to stick to, and it can also be dangerous. So we developed a complex diet that triggers the same effects in the body".

An experiment was carried out as a part of the study in which mice were on a four-day low-calorie diet. After following this diet, the researchers were able to reduce visceral belly fat, increased numbers of progenitor and stem cells in several organs.

After this, an experiment was also carried out on 19 humans who were placed on the FMD once a month for five days. The researchers said that they have shown a decline in risk factors and biomarkers for ageing, diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

The researchers said that they have worked hard to come up with this diet. They have prepared it in the manner that you do not feel like that you are on fast, but your body gets the same effects. It is important to follow it for five days before the process of regeneration and rejuvenation starts.