Calorie Restriction for Longer Life?

Maybe - but you have to be smart about it. Those who follow this lifestyle of very reduced calories also consume highly nutritional and organice food that fuels their body and keeps them healthy.

I am a life time dieter so I’ve come across this topic often: ”Calorie Restriction,” the experiments on mice and monkeys that seems to indicate a very low intake of calories (about 1/3 less the average daily calories) leads to a longer lifespan.

There are 1000s of people who have adopted this as a lifestyle, their goal is high quality nutrition for the fewest calories. Whether it can really extend one’s life span (the medical debates are still going on), the basic concept is a sound one — being overweight and eating poor quality food is dangerous to your health and shortens your life span, so any improvement in that area of your life has to be beneficial, even if you don’t adhere to the strictest low calorie levels.

Here are some links that I found interesting on the subject:

Calorie restriction’s effects on aging studied long-termCalorie restriction’s effects on aging studied long-term.

Cut Calories by a Quarter, and Life May be Longer.

Calorie Restriction with Optimum Nutrition.

This site has a lot of information and a database you can purchase that makes it easier to track your nutrition and calories: The Calorie Restriction Society. “A Calorie Restriction “CR” Diet is one in which people eat fewer calories while maintaining - and often improving - their nutrition. The CR Diet is not a weight-loss program although weight loss is usually a natural consequence. The goal of Calorie Restriction is to obtain optimal nutrition from the fewest calories. By maximizing the “nutrient density” of their food intake, calorie restrictors enjoy not only a healthier life, but anticipate a longer one as well. Several studies indicate that the CRON lifestyle can achieve both of these goals.”

Could Self Deprivation Be the Secret To a Longer, Albeit Famished, Life?
“The Department of Agriculture says the average sedentary woman should eat 1,600 calories a day and the average man 2,200

Rather, the NIH monkey experiments limit food intake to the minimum necessary to prevent negative effects on health — or at least 30% less than the current “healthy” diet. Translated into human terms, that would be 1,120 calories a day for the average woman, or 1,540 for a man.”

Longevity – Major Factors Determining Life-Span
Making our bodies (& minds) last longer is a question of Health/ Well-Being – Physical, Cognitive, Emotional, Moral, Financial:

Assessing Status: Check-ups & tests (incl. genetic). Medical, psychological, moral, and financial advice
Diet – General: Lifestyle changes instead of Diets (eg. steady weight). Quality of foods (nutrients). Quantity of food.
Diet – CRON: Calorie Restriction with Optimal Nutrition – by far, the most effective method of extending life-span.
Exercise: Moderate. Include cardio-vascular & strength (bone-density).
Sleep: Health & stress factors, as well as accident prevention. Quality of life.
Stress: Good vs. bad. Relaxation, music, pets?
Relationships: Emotional & utilitarian (trade, knowledge/ advice, assistance) value.
Purpose & Activity: Meaningful goals & stimulating, engaging activity. Passions!
Moral Habits– Virtues that facilitate useful Knowledge, help us identify & achieve Goals: Rationality (overcoming rationalization), (Self-)Honesty, Independence, Purposefulness, Integrity, Productiveness, Pride, Independence, Discipline, Principled Living
Psychological: Self-Esteem (feeling competent to live life & worthy of happiness), little depression, ability to experience joy.
IQ & EQ: Improved Cognitive & Emotional Intelligence