It’s time to limit your calories intake for a longer life. Eat well, but keep the calories low to reduce the risk of disease. It is seriously time to stop monkeying around, according to the latest monkey study.
As reported in the journal Science, 80% of monkeys who consumed a low calorie diet without being malnourished were still alive after 20 years, compared to only 50 per cent of control animals who ate freely.
According to Professor Richard Weindruch from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “We observed that caloric restriction reduced the risk of developing an age-related disease by a factor of three and increased survival.”
Bottom line it is not too late to start to change your diet, according to the study the researchers reported:
“Our data indicate that adult-onset moderate caloric restriction delays the onset of age-associated pathologies and promotes survival in a primate species.”
A calorie restricted diet has been shown to increase longevity, cut by up to 50% the occurrence of cancer and heart disease. Plus diabetes did not occur in these animals on the calorie restricted diet. As quoted by one of the researchers: “So far, we’ve seen the complete prevention of diabetes,” said Weindruch.
Extra bonus benefits is that brain function and actual size of the brain is protected when calorie intake is significantly restricted.
Take Home Message:
Life is full of choices. It is all about moderation. So the question is, do you eat to live, or do you live to eat. Whatever your current relationship with food, it is time to evaluate whether the food you are eating is adding or subtracting from your health, wellness and long term goals.
References:
R.J. Colman, R.M. Anderson, S.C. Johnson, E.K. Kastman, K.J. Kosmatka, T.M. Beasley, D.B. Allison, C. Cruzen, H.A. Simmons, J.W. Kemnitz, R. Weindruch “Caloric Restriction Delays Disease Onset and Mortality in Rhesus Monkeys” 2009:(325):201-204