Calorie-Restricted Diets: Does Eating Less Reverse Aging?

Researchers have found that a calorie restricted diet may not only help with obesity, but may reverse the aging process. This doesn't necessarily mean you will look younger, but may be able to increase your lifespan. Does a calorie-restricted diet and eating less reverse aging?

A study by the Washington University School of Medicine showed that mice and rats given a calorie restricted diet lived up to 50% longer than their counterparts. In fact, it was shown that eating less reversed processes of aging better than exercise.

The reason seems to be lower levels of a certain hormone referred to as "T3". T3 helps regulate metabolism, and higher levels have been associated with more free radicals which can damage cells and increase aging.

Does this research have any bearing on humans? Another study compared individuals who purposely engage in a lifestyle that includes a calorie-restricted diet with a group that ate a traditional "western" diet and were sedentary and a group ate the traditional diet but used endurance training.

What researchers found was that those who ate a calorie-restricted diet had lower levels of T3, just as the mice in the previous study. Those who exercised did not have the reduced T3 levels. The results of this study showed that diet was more important in slowing or reversing aging than exercise.

Before you decide to starve yourself by cutting calories, it's important to note:

-Those who purposely used a calorie-restricted diet still ate an average of 1800 calories a day. Many calorie-based diets allow you to eat as little as 1200 calories a day. If you are going to try to eat less to reverse aging, in order to get enough protein and other important nutrients you will need to eat about 1800 calories a day depending on your body's requirements.

-Exercise is still important, especially if you've been eating too much or have led a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise has important health benefits to your heart and lungs, help lower cholesterol and blood pressure and can increase circulation among others. Exercise can help prevent certain diseases that could shorten your life.

-Always speak with your doctor before beginning any weight loss or exercise program.

Most people eat more than necessary as seen by the increasing obesity epidemic. There is no guarantee you will turn back the clock by eating less. But if you are looking to lose weight anyway, you may have an extra benefit of a calorie-restricted diet - by eating less you may reverse aging as well.

THIS ARTICLE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS MEDICAL ADVICE.

REFERENCES:

Washington University School of Medicine; Calorie Restriction Appears Better than Exercise at Slowing Primary Aging; ScienceDaily