| Some Thoughts On Calorie Restriction (CR) | | | | age-related problems, such as obesity. However, their |
| Calorie Restriction (CR) is getting a great deal of | | | | calorie intake remained normal and no restriction was |
| media attention due to studies that find animals raised | | | | required to get the effect that would normally be seen |
| on restricted calories live longer and suffer from fewer | | | | with CR! |
| diseases. That advice may seem counter to the | | | | The researchers found that the experimental mice |
| "bodybuilding/fitness lifestyle" we all follow. | | | | lacking insulin receptors in their fat cells had an |
| Sure, we all know excess calories-minus any exercise | | | | approximately 18% increase in mean lifespan over their |
| to counter those additional calories-represent a | | | | non-modified red eyed squeaky counterparts. |
| negative for general health and longevity, but should | | | | Studies like this one are helping to sort out the effects |
| people be severely limiting their calories? | | | | of leanness (body fat levels) and CR, and their |
| As many of you know, studies have suggested that | | | | respective effects on longevity and-perhaps-disease |
| lower calorie intake translates into longer life spans in | | | | prevention. As we can't all have our insulin receptors |
| animals and-perhaps-people. However, this conclusion | | | | removed from our fat cells, researchers are looking to |
| is controversial and far from conclusive in my view. | | | | develop drugs to reduce-or block-insulin action in fat |
| For example, a recent study suggests that fat mass, | | | | cells in humans. |
| not calorie intake, is what is responsible for longer life | | | | Although such drugs could potentially have side |
| spans, at least in mice. (1) | | | | effects, they may also be able to prevent obesity, |
| And what does the bodybuilding lifestyle strive for? | | | | type 2 diabetes and metabolic diseases related to |
| More muscle and less body fat! Remember, as one | | | | body fat and excess calories, without having to use |
| would expect, caloric intake and low body fat | | | | strict CR. Hey, we might even live longer! |
| (leanness) are directly interrelated, which makes it | | | | Bottom line here is, I would not leap onto the CR |
| difficult to determine the relative importance of each | | | | bandwagon just yet, but would attempt to keep my |
| (CR vs. bodyfat levels) and their contributions to | | | | body fat level low and under control via good nutrition |
| longevity. Thus, researchers are now trying to | | | | and the bodybuilding lifestyle. |
| separate the two issues. | | | | People who allow themselves to get fat ("Dude, I am |
| Recently, a Dr. Kahn and colleagues from Harvard | | | | off season!") may not be optimizing their longevity, but |
| Medical School created a strain of mice that lack insulin | | | | heck, the guy who actually invented the theory of CR |
| receptors in their fat cells. As insulin is a primary | | | | and longevity-Dr. Roy Walford-who practiced CR, died |
| hormonal mediator of body fat levels in response to | | | | at the very average age of 79, so take that for what |
| caloric intakes, this lack of insulin receptors in the | | | | it's worth... |
| animals' fat cells caused the mice to have reduced fat | | | | (1) J. |
| mass (less body fat)-and also protected them from | | | | |