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There was an article printed recently in a special diet and health issue of Scientific American that covered the subject of calorie restriction and its effects on aging. It was significant to note that this article was originally done 10 years ago, yet the subject still remains new today.

Chances are, you may not have heard of the calorie restriction concept. It is based on research done with rats, fruit flies, fish and other types of creatures. The investigation started in the 1930s have shown that a reduced calorie diet can slow the signs of aging. The test subjects lived up to 20% longer and were healthier in old age than their counterparts.

Most of the diseases affiliated with aging such as cancer, diabetes, cataracts and hypertension were significantly delayed in the low calorie rats. The benefits included:

Lower body temperature

Later sexual maturation

Lower weight

Less abdominal fat

Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Later onset of age-related diseases

Longer life span

Needless to say, the next step was testing on primates. In 1987, testing was started on rhesus and squirrel monkeys. Although the preliminary results look favorable, it's a little too soon for anything definitive. The test subjects had their food consumption reduced by 30-40% of what was considered normal for their species.

What About Humans?

Since the article 10 years ago was published, the calorie restriction field (CR) has become quite famous. In fact, there is now an organization of individuals dedicated to the CR way of life. One of the findings from the experimental investigation is that a CR diet may slow free radical production. Free radicals are what increases the aging process.