Anti-Aging > Caloric Restriction
Caloric restriction is a program claiming to benefit health and slow down the aging process by limiting the amount of calories consumed, although such claims remain unproven in humans. Losing some weight will undoubtedly help most waistlines, and positive effects have been noted on cholesterol levels, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, and any number of other physiological measurements, including memory. However, studies to determine if caloric restriction can actually increase life span in primates are inconclusive.
Most practitioners reduce intake to 10-25% less than that typically recommended as "normal."
Of course, there can be negative effects, including a shortage of essential nutrients, loss of bone and muscle mass, diminished hair growth, quality of life issues, and so on. After all, the caloric restriction is essentially a matter of semi-controlled starvation. |
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Rats and fruit flies (but not houseflies) on such a regimen do indeed live significantly longer, perhaps due to lower metabolic rates, reduced cell divisions, less free radicals, all of which are just theoretical explanations.
But plenty of other objections abound. For instance, there is evidence to suggest but not prove that any life extension effect may only be reaped when caloric restriction is started at a young age.
More worrisome (well, more so to humans than to rats) is the suggestion that what works on other small species living inside of a cage may not apply in any significant way to humans living in the open, where so many other complex factors beside diet contribute to disease and longevity.
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