Can We Slow Aging With Caloric Restriction?
ByEverybody is always talking about the newest healthy weight loss fad in town. The bottom line is we have to consume fewer calories to shed a few pounds off. The thought of eating less calories usually brings the fear that we will end up being hungry or deprived of our favorite foods. Losing weight is just one of the benefits of caloric restriction (CR). It has also been supported with necessary evidence that there are additional beneficial anti-aging effects of caloric reduction in one’s daily diet. One of the most important dietary knowledge that has captured the interest of many is how to slow aging with caloric restriction.
Fewer calories do not necessarily mean less nutrition. This idea is about making the body eat right. The best way to start this is not by lessening how much is being consumed by the body but by modifying the kind of the foods taken in. Actually, the highest nutrient values can be found in fruits, vegetables, grains, salmon, tuna, trout and beans. They have lesser calories and high nutrient density.
Lessening the consumption of calories has been found to be effective towards longevity. There is also the absence of certain illnesses that are related to aging such as heart disease, hypertension and dementia to name a few. This is proven through modern experiments conducted on primates and mice.
In the studies mentioned above, the brains of the subjects were examined. It was found out that there was a statistically significant difference on the parts of the brain that are responsible for memory and cognition. The brain tissues of the animals on caloric restriction were experiencing less atrophy compared to the control group, which was fed healthy food but without any restriction regarding the amount. Mice and rats that ate 30% less calories increased their life span by 30%-40%.
The average consumption of a human male is a little over 2600 calories daily. There is, however, no magic way to determine for everyone how many calories should be consumed if interested in slowing aging, because of body size differences, metabolism as well as the level of activities each individual partakes. This is the reason why two individuals consuming the same amount and kind of food can end up differently in terms of weight and size.
To get a good look at how caloric restriction affects aging, take note of your average daily calorie intake. Create a database for one month to determine your solid average caloric intake. On the following month, reduce your daily amount of calories taken by 5%. It is important not to make the body feel hungry in the process. The secret lies on the kind of food being consumed. Choose lower calorie foods that are high in nutrients instead of the high calorie foods that are presently in your daily diet.
See your doctor and ask him to make a baseline for your cholesterol level, fasting blood sugar level and blood pressure. After that, start reducing your calorie consumption by 5 percent each month. Go to your doctor at the end of each month and have your statistics checked and recorded. The aging process is obviously slowed down if certain improvements can be noticed in the numbers indicated in the observations done. You can continue with the process of decreasing your caloric intake until the changes with your numbers come to a stop. This indicates that you have reached the healthiest level of calorie intake to make sure you are going to live longer and healthier.
It has been scientifically found that Resveratrol, which is a compound found in grape skins and red wine, can mimic the anti-aging health benefits of caloric restriction. Studies at the University of Florida revealed that “the effects of low doses of Resveratrol were comparable to caloric restriction, the hallmark of life extension”. It is never too late to get a head start on providing your body with the conditions it needs to live a longer and happier life. However, if restricting your daily calories by 15%-30% seems too hard, then when why not consider Resveratrol? Should you get healthier and slow aging with caloric restriction or Resveratrol? It is your choice.
