Fasting from 5 p.m. till 8 a.m. results in weight loss and long life span

If you've ever tried fasting, you know it's a lifestyle change that takes a bit of time to get used to. You have to program your body (and mind, really) in a way that requires great self-control, but those who do it say the benefits—fat loss, cholesterol reduction, feeling healthier overall, etc—are worth it.

Today, a study was published in the journal Nature Communications and reported on by Daily Mail that details research conducted on rhesus monkeys (they share 93 percent of the same genes as humans) to determine whether or not fasting helped them lose weight and also improved their life spans. The monkeys weren't given any food between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. (a 15-hour span), and results showed their life spans increased by 10 percent and they lost body mass—on average they consumed 20 percent less calories—when compared to eating normally. Researchers say these findings will also apply to humans. 

Lead author of the study, professor Rozalyn Anderson from the University of Wisconsin, said: "Cutting your calories delays aging, probably because the body uses energy from food differently to become more resilient." According to the study, fasting in middle age, or going without food after dark, can help people live longer, healthier lives. 

"There are studies (mostly animal) to show that caloric restriction may improve life span," says celebrity nutritionist Paula Simpson. "And in terms of weight loss, not eating at night when your body is least active helps your body burn fuel from fat storage rather than food sources."

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