The Effects of Calorie Restriction
Calorie restriction is an experimental dietary tool that advocates restricted amounts of calories but sustaining nutrient-dense food. Putting calorie restriction in a more measurable way, it refers to a diet with 30% to 40% fewer calories than the average while still containing all of the essential vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients necessary for sustaining life.
Calorie restriction is only one of the few experimental procedures that can consummately increase lifespan expectancy in experimental animals. Results indicate that it has the ability to increase both the mean and maximum life span of fungi, worms, insects, and rodents. Non-human primates are now under study. However, the complete results of these studies may not show up for decades since monkeys have comparatively extended life span expectancy as compared to other animals.
Initial results convey that monkeys under calorie restriction are healthier and have the tendency to live longer. The reason behind this is because they have a lower incidence of age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer as compared to the liberally fed, non-treated group of monkeys.
The anticipation of those who research about calorie restriction in primates has been strengthened by newer observations. These new analyses are showing that the immunologic system of older rhesus monkeys under a calorie restricted dietary regimen looks, in a lot of ways, like the immunologic system of much younger animals.
Even though calorie restrictive diets are so hard to sustain, that they are less likely to be considered as a useful approach to slower aging processes for people, studying the mechanisms of action with regards to calorie restriction is still very valuable. Calorie restriction has been shown to prevent or slow down many age-related diseases or ailments, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, dementia, and diabetes mellitus.
If researchers can discover how calorie restriction acts, they might be able to create drugs that follow its effects without recommending people to instantly decrease their calorie intake and risk harmful side effects. They found out that calorie restriction is not for everyone, such as those individuals who fall below their normal weight range. Examples of such contraindicated people are the underweight elderly, since calorie restriction will only further the development of acute-onset delirium.
Calorie restriction diets do add to lifespan. One of the main objectives of most studies is to find approaches that would increase the human life span. Such objective would slow down age-related illnesses, permitting a better quality of life all in all.
As mentioned earlier, the most compelling issue in calorie restriction diets is recognizing accurately how to halt aging and age-related diseases. Calorie restriction may work at the level of a single cell. On the other hand, it may work by activating the nervous system, in some way or another, which can ultimately produce positive effects to cells all over the body. Calorie restriction may also generate its effects by stimulating certain glands in the body to secrete protective hormones.
Researchers will be looking for other mechanisms of action and tools that are less pressing than calorie restriction. These tools must also be able to provide the same benefits in slowing down the aging process and maintaining health. Once we understand how calorie restriction slows down aging in experimental animals, we can have what it takes to imitate these positive outcomes in humans through medicine.
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