Can We Slow Aging With Caloric Restriction?

Everybody is always talking about the newest healthy weight loss fad in town. The common denominator is we have to eat fewer calories to shed a few pounds off. The thought of eating less calories usually brings the fear that we will end up being hungry or deprived of our favorite foods. Losing weight is just one of the benefits of caloric restriction (CR). It has also been supported with necessary evidence that there are additional beneficial anti-aging effects of caloric reduction in one's daily diet. One of the most important dietary knowledge that has captured the interest of many is how to slow aging with caloric restriction.

Fewer calories do not necessarily mean less nutrition. This idea is about making the body eat right. The best way to start this is not by lessening how much is being consumed by the body but by modifying the kind of the foods taken in. Actually, the highest nutrient values can be found in fruits, vegetables, grains, salmon, tuna, trout and beans. They have lesser calories and high nutrient density.

Lessening the consumption of calories has been found to be effective towards having a longer life. There is also the absence of certain illnesses that are related to aging such as heart disease, hypertension and dementia to name a few. This is proven through modern experiments conducted on primates and mice.

In studies with experimental animals, when the brain regions responsible for cognition and memory were measured, there was a significant difference in the amount of atrophy of the brain tissues. In animals on caloric restriction, there was less atrophy as compared to the control group of animals, which was allowed to consume as much as they wanted. As a result, the control group that was on unrestricted caloric intake was showing the obvious signs of aging such as atrophy and other diseases. A 30% caloric reduction resulted in slowing the aging process by 30%-40%.

In general, the average human male consumes over 2600 calories per day. This is just an average number. There are no magic numbers for determining the precise number of calories that we should consume if we desire to slow aging with caloric restriction. People come in a variety of sizes, and have different metabolisms, meaning that some need more calories just to survive than would be enough to bring on obesity in others.

To get a good look at how caloric restriction affects aging, take note of your average daily calorie intake. Create a database for one month to determine your solid average caloric intake. On the following month, reduce your daily amount of calories taken by 5%. It is important not to make the body feel hungry in the process. The secret lies on the kind of food being consumed. Choose lower calorie foods that are high in nutrients instead of the high calorie foods that are presently in your daily diet.

Visit your doctor and ask him to work with you on this one. Initially, a baseline should be set for your cholesterol, fasting blood sugar and blood pressure levels. On the following month, the caloric intake should be reduced at another 5 percent. At the end of the month, the measurements should again be noted down. This is done month after month. When you see any clear improvements on the statistics, you can be assured that you are effectively slowing the aging process your body is going through. The reduction process should continue until the changes stop. This indicates that you have reached the calorie intake level you need in order to end up with a longer and healthier life.

It has been scientifically found that Resveratrol, which is a compound found in grape skins and red wine, can mimic the anti-aging health benefits of caloric restriction. Studies at the University of Florida revealed that "the effects of low doses of Resveratrol were comparable to caloric restriction, the hallmark of life extension". It is never too late to get a head start on providing your body with the conditions it needs to live a longer and happier life. However, if restricting your daily calories by 15%-30% seems too hard, then when why not consider Resveratrol? Should you get healthier and slow aging with caloric restriction or Resveratrol? It is your choice.