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A Calorie Restrictive Diet

Most know that they can decrease their overall body mass by limiting the amount of calories they consume. However, new research indicates that calorie restrictive diets may do more than just trim a person's waistline. Recent studies suggest that a calorie restrictive diet may be able to help retard the aging process and prevent certain kinds of disease.

  1. Research Studies

    • A 20-year study of 76 adult rhesus monkeys suggests that cutting daily calorie intake by 30 percent could substantially slow down the aging process. The study included 76 adult rhesus monkeys who were put on equally nutritious diets. One group of monkeys was allowed to eat a normal amount of calories, while the other group was placed on a calorie restrictive diet. According to lead researcher Ricki Colman, Ph.D., an associate scientist at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center in Madison, monkeys in the calorie-restricted group were unencumbered by age-related diseases and brain atrophy, which is linked to cognitive ability. Obviously, rhesus monkeys aren't quite the same as humans, but researchers believe the findings indicate that nutritious calorie-restrictive diets may be beneficial to humans as well.

    Other Evidence

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, limited research on calorie restrictive diets for anti-aging suggests that these diets can lead to positive changes in body fat percentage, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar and weight. The Mayo Clinic also reports that other research studies have found that rodents that reduced their calorie consumption by 30 to 60 percent before they were six months old increased their maximum life spans by 30 to 60 percent. Furthermore, the Mayo Clinic asserts that studies have found that rodents following a calorie-restricted diet developed fewer chronic diseases associated with aging---such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer---or delayed the development of these diseases.

    Risks

    • Although there is much evidence that suggests a calorie restrictive diet can be beneficial to human health, there are also risks. According to the Mayo Clinic, a a calorie restrictive diet may not be safe for older adults and people who are lean. The Mayo Clinic warns that a calorie restrictive diet can sometimes lead to hormonal changes, loss of muscle mass, anemia, reduced bone density, menstrual irregularities, irritability, depression, swelling in the legs and feet, lethargy and dizziness. According to the the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise and calcium supplementation can prevent or limit losses in bone density and muscle mass.

    Application

    • If you'd like to implement a low-calorie diet into your lifestyle, you should focus on foods that provide the most nutrition. Fruits and leafy green vegetables will give you the most nutrition for the least amount of calories. Since you won't be consuming many calories, you'll want to avoid foods high in sugar and fat. These foods provide a large amount of calories, but don't pack much nutrition. The key to a healthy low-calorie diet is to get the most out of each calorie to ensure that your body gets the nutrition it needs to function properly.

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