There has been a lot of buzz in recent years about calorie restrictive diets being an effective method to increasing longevity. However, recent research suggests that this approach to eating does little to increase life expectancy.
Calories Required for Health
Proponents of calorie restrictive eating suggest that food intake should be at levels far below recommended requirements for healthy living. In fact, they suggest that individuals who eat approximately 30 to 40 percent less calories than suggested by the FDA lead to longer life and improved health. However, research from the National Institute on Aging is proving them wrong.
Researchers testing this theory found that monkeys placed on calorie restrictive diets lived no longer than those allowed to eat normally. While the researchers found that there were moderate improvements in triglyceride and cholesterol levels for the monkeys with controlled diets, they had the same general deterioration, heart disease and other health problems associated with age. In short, the health benefits of significantly reducing their calorie intake were minimal.
Calories Required for Health
Calories are necessary for the body to operate at an optimal level. Your body requires the energy provided by carbohydrates, protein and other foods to maintain metabolism, muscle strength and effectively fight off infections and other illness. Eating a diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals and protein is the best way to maintain your health and live a long and productive life.
If you are concerned about longevity, pay attention to gut health and eat foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt and fermented foods. Recent studies have found that improving gut health and maintaining healthy intestinal flora contributes to improved immune system and gastrointestinal functioning and better overall health.
Choose organically produced whole foods, including fruits, vegetables and whole grain products that are low glycemic for optimal health. Avoiding processed foods that contain high fructose corn syrup and preservatives can also go a long way to improving your health performance and contribute to living as long as possible. If you eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, you will reduce your chances of developing heart problems, diabetes and high blood pressure, all of which contribute to early death.
– The Alternative Daily
