Longevity Diet & Supplements

Since the middle of the 20th century, researchers have argued that calorie restriction with optimal nutrition, or CRON, might slow the aging process and contribute, as it does in some animals, to a significantly increased life span. Studies proving that calorie restriction, or CR, works on humans are still forthcoming. Calorie restriction can be dangerous. Discuss any diet plan you undertake with your doctor.

Warning

CR has demonstrated lifespan-enhancing qualities in many animal species, including rhesus macaques, according to Discover Magazine online. However, some people who practice CR incur serious complications. Clinicians who work with borderline anorexics have found that, while following moderate CR strategies, these patients demonstrate heart, lung and other organ damage, as well as an overall failure to thrive, according to Gary Taubes, renowned science writer, in an article entitled "Live Long and Prosper," published in the October 2010 issue of "Discover" magazine.

History

The idea that eating less promotes longevity has been present in the popular consciousness since the earlier part of the 20th century. In 1941, "Popular Science" published an article called "Stay Hungry and Live Longer," which detailed the research of Clive M. McCay at Cornell University. McCay fed 2,500 rats a CR diet, and found that they thrived well beyond the their fully fed counterparts' average life span of 700 days.

Counter Evidence

At least one early human experiment into CR proved very negative. In 1945, the "Minnesota Starvation Experiment," performed by Ancel Keys on male volunteers demonstrated that a CR diet, averaging 1,800 calories per day, resulted in abnormal behavior among many of the participants. After just six weeks, men reported confusion, edema or swelling, depression and suicidal thoughts, according to Caleb Ellicott Finch, professor of gerontology at USC Davis, and author of "The Biology of Human Longevity: Inflammation, Nutrition, and Aging in the Evolution of Lifespans." Subsequent human studies showed that less extreme CR may have some positive impact on fasting insulin, one potential measure of longterm health, although human life spans are too long for most studies to definitively measure the impact of a CR diet on longevity.

Supplements

Ideally, nutritional and vitamin supplements to increase longevity will work as a complement to, and not a substitute for, nutrients you obtain from the food you eat. In addition to CR, the website of the Life Extension Foundation recommends tart cherries, garlic, and vitamins C, D and E, among a wide variety of other nutrients, for their anti-aging actions in the body. Scientific opinion on optimal amounts and types of supplements changes on a constant basis, so it's best to keep reading the most recent research in order to take advantage of new discoveries.

Considerations

It might take more than diet and supplementation to attain longevity. Researchers in the Okinawa Centenarian Study report on the study's website that genetics determine anywhere from 10 percent to 50 percent of an individual's longevity. They attribute the long lives of the Okinawan centenarians they studied to factors such as specific components of their diets, like good fats, vegetables and fruits, as well as to their high levels of physical activity. Stress level, overall enjoyment, and cultural influences may also play key roles in healthy aging.