Every time diet comes to mind, you instantly think of what food not to eat. You argue with your own self and insist the idea that this time it will work and that you’ll finally achieve the figure you’ve always dreamed of.
Decisions like, exercise, half cup of rice for every meal, no breakfast or dinner, no to ham, bacon, hotdog and other processed food and no to all calorie-rich food rise. Whereas, some succeed with their plans, many still find themselves frustrated in applying such restrictions. As a result, they surrender so easily and go back to their old lifestyle. However, what if the chance to diet knocks and offers you not to take away all you want but instead lessen only your dessert intake and presto, 10 more minutes will be added to your lifespan? Wouldn’t that sound a more real, achievable deal then?
This calorie diet looks inviting and effective but let us see if it will work first to animals when tested.
Nutritionist in Cornell University discovered that 30% decrease in calorie intake results to 40% increase in lifespan. This experiment had been tested to mice, worms, fruit flies, yeast cells, Labrador retrievers and monkeys and all had evident longer lives compared to their same species who ate what nature naturally offers. For humans, let’s say this experiment will result to a life that can survive until 160 years. That’s big, great news! In addition to this longevity for animals, they had minimal chances of having cancer while aging. Hence, for animals calorie restriction is found to be very advantageous.
If it works for animals, will calorie restriction work for humans too?
Well, the deal is but all bargain! Even the people who proposed this idea honestly confessed a 30% decrease of calorie intake makes them hungrier than the usual. Probably resulting to more craving and intense swearword to devour all delicious food the soonest time the diet ends.
However, the question above is still torn between two answers.
NO. IT DOESN’T WORK.
For fruit flies and mice, calorie restriction works because they naturally have a short life span. The effect is so easily seen and not at all complex to test. From these species, the experiment if ever tested to humans will cause decades before the initial assumptions will be achieved or not. That probably discourages researchers to try since finding people who will be willing to sacrifice their calorie intakes for the rest of their lives are rare, they actually in probable guess never exist.
YES. IT DOES WORK!
On the other hand, Japan known for its old-age survival lifestyle has proofs that calorie restriction works. Residents who aged more than a hundred were all consuming calories in fewer levels. Even at World War I and II, minimal supplies of food did not cause death or even aging illnesses like Type 2 Diabetes, cancer and coronary artery disease. Various people also tested and proven this like researchers of Biosphere 2 and Roy Walford who wrote “the 120-Year Diet” and “The Anti-Aging Plan”.
Though this diet strategy remains unanswered with regard to its effectiveness, numerous people still find it good and applicable. Take for example a citizen who shared to New York Times last 2003 that he only eats the following:
• Breakfast – a big muffin and a homemade blend of 30 ingredients like raw wheat germ, single carrot, rice bran and strawberries
• Lunch – roast beef sandwich or protein bar
• Dinner – zucchini, a serving of broccoli and canned pink salmon
Well, that’s real diet just for him since the rest of his family don’t try it. This man probably caused too much effort to prepare his food, his appetite to eat them, his discipline to remain on his diet and disregard all temptations and the higher costs of fresh, branded veggies.
Will Calorie Restriction be a hit years from now?
Yes. Studies show that major benefits of lesser calories lead to lowering blood pressures, improving heart conditions and boosting the immune system. Also, the diet strategy had lower insulin levels and body temperatures leading to longer life spans. Researchers actually infer that this could extend 4 to 5 years of man’s life. Not that long but enough to stay longer. However, many theories confuse scientists as to where calorie restriction really leads. Two major ideas sum them up. First, it works as self-preservation reaction from stress to enable longer exposures and more tasks to accomplish. Second, the consideration that the human body does not have to perform too much equates to the idea that a lesser intake is already fair. If you are curious about the other ideas, hints are they pertain hormones, cell divisions and genes related to lifespan.
Even when mice and other animals were proven to alter well with calorie restriction diet, they still do not imply significant contribution to experiments toward life longevity and calorie restriction diets. Instead, they manifest that little did nutritionists and scientists have gone in studying such diet strategy. For example, calorie restriction diet lengthens life for fruit flies but not for houseflies. Fat mice acquire various benefits but not lean and skinny mice. The diet is also good for mice bred but not for the wild ones. Lastly, when the restriction reaches 60% decrease, mice die because of starvation.
In such case, the diet is seen to be unsuitable for children, old and sick persons. Also, it cannot not adhere best to the nutritional needs of healthy individuals. Side effects like loss of memory, muscle mass, loss of libido, dizziness and cessation of menstrual cycle for women.
However, if the calorie restriction diet is still inviting to your senses, it is best to consult a physician first and acquire the know-hows of the diet. Though various studies do not completely support the diet strategy, scientists continually search the best subject that can reflect the effectiveness of the diet.
There could be no harm in trying so long as your medical specialist backs you up and you are on guard to everything you eat. Whatever your plans are, set your health as the top priority and the figure you want will just follow.
