A decade’s worth of research in caloric restriction has showed that reducing calories without compromising nutrition slows aging, extends lifespan, has positive effects on the brain and fights diseases in animals.
Researchers put mice on a calorie restricted diet and reported a 30 percent increase in lifespan. And more recently, reports were released that calorie-restricted Rhesus monkeys (a species that shares many similarities with humans) were healthier and had a 3 times lower death rate from age related causes and showed beneficial effects on the brain.
“The new study shows the effects of calorie restriction in primates that are closely related to humans,” states Ricki Colman, Ph.D., an associate scientist at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, in Madison. “Monkeys in the calorie-restricted group are more likely to live healthier, longer.”
Exactly why caloric restriction extends lifespan and fights age related diseases is unknown. One factor may be the subjects of the studies maintain a healthy body weight. Obesity is a major risk factor for many diseases. Also, Eating nutrient-dense foods can produce physiologic changes in the body, which may lower disease risk.
But there is a fine line in how many calories to cut. Restrict too many and you can suffer from nutritional deficiencies, a decrease in bone mineral density, menstrual irregularities, muscle loss and more. A calorie restricted diet needs to include healthy foods while cutting out foods that are high in trans and saturated fats and high in sugar. In short, you need to make very calorie count to reap the benefits of a low calorie diet.
And the list of benefits is ever growing!
Sources cited:
CNN Health
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