Calorie restriction is a hot topic in anti-aging circles.
It seems the only thing that is scientifically proven to extend the length of a creature's life is restricting the calories they consume.
This has been demonstrated in the study of yeast, mice, pigs, dogs, and many other short living species.
But, the magic question is: "Does Caloric Restriction increase the life span of humans?" Since the lifespan of humans is so long, it is completely impractical to be able to study the effects of a human study.
The closest we can come is to study other primates that are very close to our biological and hormonal systems, and is the best indicator of whether or not calorie restriction will increase the life span of humans.
To answer this questions researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison undertook a 20 year study on The Rhesus Macaque, often referred to as the Rhesus Monkey, and published their findings in the July 10, 2009 issue of Science.
The study found that calorie restriction is successful in increasing the life span and preventing age related diseases like Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, etc.
The study divided 76 monkeys into two groups.
The first group was allowed to consume as much food as it wanted, while the second was fed a diet that contained 30% less calories than the first.
The study began in 1989, and at the time of publication 80% of the animals on the caloric restricted diet are still alive, compared to less than 50% of the unrestricted group.
Cancer and Cardiovascular problems have a 200% higher rate of incidence in the unrestricted group compared to the caloric restricted group.
The calorie restricted group also have a zero grate of diabetes, and have not seen even the slightest rise in insulin resistance.
Not only that, but the caloric restriction group also seems to have retained a higher level of motor skills, problem solving ability, working memory, and brain volume than the unrestricted group.
This shows that calorie restriction could be essential in reducing the negative effects aging has on our cognitive ability, and loss of muscle strength, mass, and control.
One of the reasons researchers believe that calorie restriction has seen great success in preventing the negative aspects of aging is due to the regulation of hormones involved.
The lower calories help balance insulin, leptin, IGF-1, testosterone, and growth hormone.
This allows for increased efficiency in cell repair helping to preserve cell mass, strength, and volume.
We can get a lot of the same benefit of calorie restriction without feeling like we are starving ourselves if we stick to eating whole natural foods and focus creating meals that revolve around animal proteins and vegetables.
Remember, Aging is Inevitable, but Looking and Feeling Old are Optional...
JT
It seems the only thing that is scientifically proven to extend the length of a creature's life is restricting the calories they consume.
This has been demonstrated in the study of yeast, mice, pigs, dogs, and many other short living species.
But, the magic question is: "Does Caloric Restriction increase the life span of humans?" Since the lifespan of humans is so long, it is completely impractical to be able to study the effects of a human study.
The closest we can come is to study other primates that are very close to our biological and hormonal systems, and is the best indicator of whether or not calorie restriction will increase the life span of humans.
To answer this questions researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison undertook a 20 year study on The Rhesus Macaque, often referred to as the Rhesus Monkey, and published their findings in the July 10, 2009 issue of Science.
The study found that calorie restriction is successful in increasing the life span and preventing age related diseases like Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, etc.
The study divided 76 monkeys into two groups.
The first group was allowed to consume as much food as it wanted, while the second was fed a diet that contained 30% less calories than the first.
The study began in 1989, and at the time of publication 80% of the animals on the caloric restricted diet are still alive, compared to less than 50% of the unrestricted group.
Cancer and Cardiovascular problems have a 200% higher rate of incidence in the unrestricted group compared to the caloric restricted group.
The calorie restricted group also have a zero grate of diabetes, and have not seen even the slightest rise in insulin resistance.
Not only that, but the caloric restriction group also seems to have retained a higher level of motor skills, problem solving ability, working memory, and brain volume than the unrestricted group.
This shows that calorie restriction could be essential in reducing the negative effects aging has on our cognitive ability, and loss of muscle strength, mass, and control.
One of the reasons researchers believe that calorie restriction has seen great success in preventing the negative aspects of aging is due to the regulation of hormones involved.
The lower calories help balance insulin, leptin, IGF-1, testosterone, and growth hormone.
This allows for increased efficiency in cell repair helping to preserve cell mass, strength, and volume.
We can get a lot of the same benefit of calorie restriction without feeling like we are starving ourselves if we stick to eating whole natural foods and focus creating meals that revolve around animal proteins and vegetables.
Remember, Aging is Inevitable, but Looking and Feeling Old are Optional...
JT