Chances are, you may not have heard of the calorie restriction concept. It is based on research done with rats, fruit flies, fish and other types of creatures. The investigation started in the 1930s have shown that a reduced calorie diet can slow the signs of aging. The test subjects lived up to 20% longer and were healthier in old age than their counterparts.

Most of the diseases affiliated with aging such as cancer, diabetes, cataracts and hypertension were significantly delayed in the low calorie rats. The benefits included:

Lower body temperature
Later sexual maturation
Lower weight
Less abdominal fat
Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Later onset of age-related diseases
Longer life span

Needless to say, the next step was testing on primates. In 1987, testing was started on rhesus and squirrel monkeys. Although the preliminary results look favorable, it's a little too soon for anything definitive. The test subjects had their food consumption reduced by 30-40% of what was considered normal for their species.

What About Humans?

Since the article 10 years ago was published, the calorie restriction field (CR) has become quite famous. In fact, there is now an organization of individuals dedicated to the CR way of life. One of the findings from the experimental investigation is that a CR diet may slow free radical production. Free radicals are what increases the aging process.

Obviously, just reducing your caloric intake isn't what CR is all about. It's not a matter of limiting your fat, protein or carbohydrates. Supplementation alone with vitamins or antioxidants doesn't work either. You'll need to reduce the calories you consume, not the nutrients. Get knowledgeable about CR first. The link at the end of this article will give you some resources if you are curious in exploring further.

For most of us, maintaining a calorie restricted diet as a means of anti aging is not an choice we would consider. In CR, a regular meal of 1200 calories would be reduced to 940. Without the proper knowledge and guidance, one could easily become malnourished.

A Word of Warning

This article is only meant to inform about the advances made on the subject of anti aging and nutrition. In the same issue of Scientific America, there was an article on how scientists disagree on whether some amount of fat is beneficial in the elderly and another article on teenagers that starve themselves to death. The best advice is still to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly. The link at the end of this article will give you some healthy alternatives in the aging process.

Into The Future...

Because of the investigation done on CR in animals, scientists are now working on an calorie restriction mimetic (in pill form) that would allow humans to get the benefits of a CR diet without feeling hungry. Isn't technology grand?