Would you like to live to age 120 in good health?

[JohnR41]

There was an article in the newspaper on July 10 about how to live longer on a low calorie diet. Well, it was mostly about monkeys but there's no reason to believe that it won't work on humans too. It was discovered to work on rodents in the 1930s. Since then there have been countless experiments on all kinds of animals, bugs, worms, flies and you name it. The latest news is that it appears to be working to slow the aging in primates.

They don't just live longer, they stay young longer. The monkeys on the calorie restricted diet have less than half the rate of cancer or heart trouble. Their brains have less age related shrinkage and they retain more muscle.

Separately, in the book "Beyond The 120 Year Diet" the author states that people should be able to live to 120 and beyond. All the experimental evidence points to longer life and extended youthfulness.

So what are we waiting for? Let's get started! The "fountain of youth" was discovered in the 1930s. Instead we see the opposite as the percentage of overweight and obese is on the rise.

As a society, we seem to be addicted to tasty high calorie foods. It must be a strong addiction, otherwise we would choose to live more youthful and longer lives, wouldn't we?

[Lucy321]

Hi JohnR41,

I read something similar a few years back about how eating a low calorie, low fat diet can actually slow the aging process; and I suppose if you think about it it certainly can't hurt.

Without having to carry around loads of food in the stomach or the arteries getting clogged up with fat the body is bound to be more efficient and healthy. I've been following that type of diet for a few years now, and I certainly feel better for it.

As for the question 'Would you like to live to age 120 in good health?' my answer would be Definitely!

[Cloverberry52]

no I don't want to live to be 120 no matter what. I want to eat what I like, when I want it.

[Dee101]

Hara Hachi Bu is the Okinawan cultural practice of eating until only 80 percent full.

I don't know if I want to live until I'm 120 years old, but I do want to be healthy. I like the idea of being able to do for myself, even in my mature years.

Not realizing that I was following the "Hara Hachi Bu" way of eating, it seem that it's less taxing on your system, especially as you get older not to overeat and a plus if you are slimmer/thinner; however way you want to put it.

It's a personal choice if you want to live a clean healthy life or like Cloverberry52 eat what you want when you want it.

[rheanna]

JohnR41,

I read about the studies too. I also read from another scientist, who pointed out that these monkeys were raised in a sterile environment. He says that a calorie-restricted diet can indeed be beneficial for many organs in the body, but that long-term calorie restriction can diminish the immune system. He is concerned that folks who try this in the "real world" (non-sterile environment) would not have strong enough immune systems to be able to fight off many of the viruses and chemicals and such that we all come into contact with daily.

So, while calorie restriction would help in some areas of our health, it would hurt in other areas.

If I had to make a choice (smaller meals = longer life vs larger portions = shorter life) -- well, I like good food.

Dee101, I admire that you can follow the Hara Hachi Bu practice.

--Rheanna