Researchers through a new study have revealed that taking a short-term food break may have some pretty amazing health benefits. University of Southern California researchers have developed a five-day diet, once in a month that they have termed as the ‘Fasting Mimicking Diet’.

They found that people, who followed the fasting routine for three months, had reduced risk factors for aging, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Co-author of the study Valter Longo said strict fasting is tougher for people to stick to and it can also be dangerous. It can also lead to development of a complex diet that triggers the same effects in the body.

Researchers said on the first day of the study, dieters ate 1,090 calories made up of 10% protein, 56% fat and 34% carbohydrates.

On day two, five each had 725 calories with 9 % protein, 44 % fat and 47 % carbohydrates. During rest of the month, dieters ate whatever they wanted.

Co-author Satchidananda Panda said that intermittent fasting helps the body rejuvenate and repair, thus it helps in promoting overall health. Fasting alone is more powerful in preventing and reversing some diseases than drugs, Panda said.

The results appeared to be promising not only in yeast and in rodents, but in humans as well. But it still needs some more research before it is recommended to people to follow.

Results of the study are so far promising and the FDA will evaluate its safety shortly.

The ‘Fasting Mimicking Diet’ was also linked to lower levels of the hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I), which previous work found having connection with cancer risk and aging.