Part Five - Looking For the Fountain of Youth - Death Defying Diets
The Fountain of Youth is a myth but according to research there may be a way to extend the human lifespan.
You may have heard it referred to as the CRON-diet (Calorie Restriction with Optimum Nutrition), CRAN (Caloric Restriction with Adequate Nutrition), CRL (Calorie Restriction for Longevity) or just CR (Calorie Restriction).
It's also been called the Anti-Aging Plan, the High-Low Diet and the Walford Diet.
Whatever you call it, it's still the Longevity diet, a regimen in which you eat fewer calories and choose food for its nutritional value.
The goal of the Longevity Diet or CR is not weight loss, although that will be a side effect.
The real goal is to slow the aging process and prevent the ailments that affect us as we age.
The positive effects of a reduced calorie diet were reported in 1935.
Since then research has shown CR to extend the average and maximum life span for many species including mice and rats.
While there has not been sufficient research to determine if humans on calorie restricted diets will live longer, preliminary observations indicate that life-extending effects will probably be seen in humans as well.
Dr.
Roy Walford, who died in 2004 from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease), was a pioneer in the field of life extension and the concept of using caloric restriction to combat the effects of aging and disease.
He was one of eight men sealed inside Biosphere 2, a living laboratory in Arizona, from September 26, 1991 to September 26, 1993.
Dr.
Walford was the crew's physician.
When they found that they couldn't grow as much food as they thought Dr.
Walford convinced them to follow his calorie restriction diet which produced weight loss and improved health.
In an article in The Washington Post in 2004 Katherine Tallmadge, nationally recognized health, diet and nutrition expert, said "A growing body of scientific evidence shows that any time you restrict calories you will receive significant health benefits that may not only help you lose weight, but effect a series of biological mechanisms that may prolong your life.
" If you decide to start the Longevity Diet see your doctor first to make sure it's the right plan for you.
Any change in diet should be done in consultation with a knowledgeable health care provider.
You'll need to calculate how many calories you need to eat each day and the nutrients you need for optimum health.
Get baseline blood tests done so you can compare results after being on the diet for a period of time.
To find out more about the regimen, do some reading.
There are many good sources.
"The Anti-Aging Plan" by Dr.
Roy L.
Walford, and his daughter, Lisa Walford," is a good book to start with.
It provides lots of recipes and the essentials without getting bogged down in technical details.
"The Longevity Diet," by Brian M.
Delaney, President of the CR Society and Lisa Walford explains the concepts and also how the diet works in practice.
The Calorie Restriction Society web site provides latest news, information on getting started, risks and frequently asked questions.
There are mailing lists, book reviews, DVDs and more.
The URL is www.
calorierestriction.
org/Home.
You may have heard it referred to as the CRON-diet (Calorie Restriction with Optimum Nutrition), CRAN (Caloric Restriction with Adequate Nutrition), CRL (Calorie Restriction for Longevity) or just CR (Calorie Restriction).
It's also been called the Anti-Aging Plan, the High-Low Diet and the Walford Diet.
Whatever you call it, it's still the Longevity diet, a regimen in which you eat fewer calories and choose food for its nutritional value.
The goal of the Longevity Diet or CR is not weight loss, although that will be a side effect.
The real goal is to slow the aging process and prevent the ailments that affect us as we age.
The positive effects of a reduced calorie diet were reported in 1935.
Since then research has shown CR to extend the average and maximum life span for many species including mice and rats.
While there has not been sufficient research to determine if humans on calorie restricted diets will live longer, preliminary observations indicate that life-extending effects will probably be seen in humans as well.
Dr.
Roy Walford, who died in 2004 from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease), was a pioneer in the field of life extension and the concept of using caloric restriction to combat the effects of aging and disease.
He was one of eight men sealed inside Biosphere 2, a living laboratory in Arizona, from September 26, 1991 to September 26, 1993.
Dr.
Walford was the crew's physician.
When they found that they couldn't grow as much food as they thought Dr.
Walford convinced them to follow his calorie restriction diet which produced weight loss and improved health.
In an article in The Washington Post in 2004 Katherine Tallmadge, nationally recognized health, diet and nutrition expert, said "A growing body of scientific evidence shows that any time you restrict calories you will receive significant health benefits that may not only help you lose weight, but effect a series of biological mechanisms that may prolong your life.
" If you decide to start the Longevity Diet see your doctor first to make sure it's the right plan for you.
Any change in diet should be done in consultation with a knowledgeable health care provider.
You'll need to calculate how many calories you need to eat each day and the nutrients you need for optimum health.
Get baseline blood tests done so you can compare results after being on the diet for a period of time.
To find out more about the regimen, do some reading.
There are many good sources.
"The Anti-Aging Plan" by Dr.
Roy L.
Walford, and his daughter, Lisa Walford," is a good book to start with.
It provides lots of recipes and the essentials without getting bogged down in technical details.
"The Longevity Diet," by Brian M.
Delaney, President of the CR Society and Lisa Walford explains the concepts and also how the diet works in practice.
The Calorie Restriction Society web site provides latest news, information on getting started, risks and frequently asked questions.
There are mailing lists, book reviews, DVDs and more.
The URL is www.
calorierestriction.
org/Home.
Source...