Calorie-restricted Diet Longevity

The calorie-restriction diet for longevity has gotten the attention of scientists after a promising study with rodents. This study, published in 1986 by the "Journal of Nutrition," showed that restricting calories was enough to extend the lifespan by 40 percent in rats. Other favorable benefits include a better functioning immune system, improved glucose tolerance and more effective behavior and learning. Calorie restriction for humans has not been tested, but there are proponents of this way of eating to increase health and longevity.

What is Calorie Restriction?

In a calorie-restricted diet, you reduce your intake of calories but not your intake of nutrition. In other words, your total energy intake declines, but you do not sacrifice any of the essential vitamins, minerals or nutrients that your body needs. Reducing calories in this manner allows you to benefit from a calorie-restriction diet while ensuring your body gets what it needs to function properly.

How to Follow a Calorie-Restricted Diet

According to the Mayo Clinic's website, a calorie-restriction diet means eating fewer calories than your body needs for weight maintenance. The typical calorie-restricted diet for anti-aging decreases caloric intake by 20 to 30 percent. You must also monitor your intake of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in order to avoid malnutrition. A good way to do this is to plan your meals and add a multivitamin. A healthy diet consists of 45 to 65 percent of calories from carbohydrates, 10 to 35 percent from proteins and the rest from fat. A multivitamin can help ensure that your body gets all of the vitamins and minerals it needs.

Why It Works

The mechanism of life extension has to do with cellular functioning. Calorie restriction decreases the metabolic rate, body temperature, body growth and body fat. It also increases immune system functioning and the body's ability to repair DNA. By slowing your metabolic rate, more energy is put into repairing tissue and maintaining the vital functions of the body. It has also been shown to increase apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This is important because if a cell undergoes a mutation, it must be destroyed to contain the mutation. A reduction in the number of mutated cells can decrease the likelihood of chronic disease, such as cancer.

Risks

As on any diet, there are risks associated with severely reducing calories. If done improperly, this diet can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition can compromise your health. Not getting enough calories can also cause anemia, alteration in mood, fatigue and edema. Other side effects include loss of muscle and bone mass, hormonal fluctuations and changes in menstruation. Before you start this or any diet, always consult your physician for clearance.