Calorie restriction (CR) improves health, reduces cancer incidence and extends lifespan in multiple organisms including mice. CR was shown to enhance base excision repair and nucleotide excision repair pathways of DNA repair, however, whether CR improves repair of DNA double-strand breaks has not been examined in in vivo system. Here we utilize non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) reporter mice to show that short-term CR strongly enhances DNA repair by NHEJ, which is associated with elevated levels of DNA-PK and SIRT6.
Calorie restriction (CR) without malnutrition slows the biological aging process and results in lifespan extension in a number of species1. In mice, CR by reduction in calorie intake by 30–40% extends both mean and maximum lifespan by 30–40%2,3. CR provides many beneficial health effects, including: reduced incidence of tumors, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, sarcopenia, and cardiovascular diseases.
SOURCES- Aging and Mechanism of Disease -Short-term calorie restriction enhances DNA repair by non-homologous end joining in mice
Written By Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com
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This has been clear for at least 30 years now. And it appears to be strongly associated with the deleterious effects of oxygen free radicals produced after metabolizing of ingested food. That's why larger animals tend to live longer than smaller ones since larger animals eat relatively less food than smaller animals.
The principal reason for food consumption in endothermic (warm blooded animals) is to produce heat in order to keep the body at a regular temperature. Only a small fraction of food consumed is for tissue maintenance. Terrestrial ectotherms (cold blooded animals) tend to live even longer since they depend on sunlight to regulate their body temperature.
Humans and apes live longer than other animals their size because they both produce a natural anti oxidant– uric acid. And humans tend to live even longer than apes because humans have small stomachs and don't eat as much food as other primates. That's because humans have discovered many other ways to– stay warm– beyond the body heat produced from metabolism: clothes, fire, shelter, home heating, hot foods and hot drinks, etc.
The Japanese tend to have the longest longevity among existing populations. Not surprising since they have relatively low obesity rates and have the highest frequency of taking– hot baths:-)
Suddenly curious about the omelette recipe…
The problem with calorie restriction (dieting) is that it's hard to stick to it. Though maybe something like this would help:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/stomachpowered-weight-loss-implant
There are also other ideas being worked on for losing weight:
https://www.slashgear.com/alcoholism-drug-linked-to-dramatic-weight-loss-in-obesity-study-15620820/
https://nypost.com/2018/08/22/scientists-accidentally-discover-drug-that-curbs-weight-gain/
Calorie restriction is not a realistic path to life extension, and the quality of life would be miserable. Also, on the very edge of getting what you need, it is very easy to not get enough and end up with a nutritional deficiency or two.
Also, what might be working well for years to get everything you need, might not later. Bodies can loose the ability to extract nutrients efficiently, and the body may have been able to make enough of some substance by itself until some age, where it must then be supplemented. That is a lot to account for, and would require regular monitoring.
Also, as larger organisms, having some fat in the skin and between organs helps prevent or reduce injuries in falls. Only to a point, obviously.
No thanks. I'll take the metformin. Though, occasional fasting (or heavy restriction) I don't have a problem with. I have tried it, and I am convinced it has benefits.
All the negative egg yolk stuff was theoretical. They just looked at cholesterol and said…"that's bad…eggs must be bad". But when they actually looked at health of people that ate eggs, that was not the case. Eggs have sulfur, and lecithin. Turn out, sulfur is good for the circulatory system and joints, and lecithin is good for nerves and brain.
https://www.cookinglight.com/news/are-eggs-unhealthy-for-you-study
But isn't Calorie Restriction anti-thetical to exercise and you know: 'activity'. I know its mostly about achieving the intake of essential micronutrients and increasing the rate at which metabolic/ cellular repair is undertaken by essentially 'stressing' / read: 'signalling' upscaling of repair mechanisms. But what's the optimization curve? For each additional calorie spent on exercise – ideally resistance training – but also cardio/ stretch, the pay-off would be, in the strict technical parlance 'way-ass-good' towards additional autophagy, overcoming sarcopenia, etc. Of course, we start treading upon the concepts of maximizing potential health, extending health-span, and extending life span — all very different ideas – each with its own approaches and limitations. Not convinced on the Calorie Restriction 'costs to quality of life' versus other potential approaches to 'now' health, longer health, and longer 'life' goals.
Other than the calories, it seems it's the egg yolks that may not be too great for you IF you get too much of them. I generally do two eggs, with an equivalent quantity of egg white (and a small bit of shredded cheddar cheese mixed in). Makes a nice sized omelette without giving up the taste of whole eggs. And then only every other day because on alternate days I only eat dinner, or nothing at all <grumble>.
Intermittent and periodic fasting produces the same results, but in varying degrees. If the physiological and psychological effects of these dietary restriction methods were a pharmaceutical, it would garner billions! But this is free to everyone, you spend only will-power, and stand to gain so much, including decreased or eliminated chronic conditions. The research is out there!
I do VERY well with calorie restriction for a month and then I wreck myself by eating a four-egg, three-meat omelette. >_< I know that's a me problem, but it's still SUPER frustrating. But I will say that when I do some calorie restriction or intermittent fasting– and I know our bodies are all different– my energy levels double, I feel cleaner, my mental state improves, my moods aren't nearly as likely to be a rollercoaster ride.