Thoughts On Health & Medicine

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Eating less has an unusual effect on life — it tends to extend it. Cutting calories will not only help you lose weight, it can help you live longer, too.

We did an article on this a few years ago that dealt with research conducted with laboratory animals. Here’s the link.

But a recent study from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri has shown this is also true among humans. Eating less slows down the primary aging process and is apparently linked to lower levels of T3, a thyroid hormone that controls cell metabolism body temperature and the production of free radicals — and to lowering levels of (TNF)-alpha, the inflammatory protein tumor necrosis factor.

The study, led by Dr. Luigi Fontana involved 28 volunteers who ate a calorie restricted diet of 1,800 calories daily for 3-15 years, as well as 28 sedentary adults and 28 endurance athletes. Both of these groups consumed a typical Western diet of 2,700 calories.

T3 concentrations dropped by some 30% only in the calorie restricted group, showing that exercise, once thought to be a factor, had no effect.

* Quit Smoking
* Eat more fruits and vegetables
* Get more exercise

These are three easy and very practical ways to add about a dozen years to your life, according to a Cambridge University study of more than 25,000 Brits.

No, they’re not drastic changes, but their impact can be significant. Four to five years for not smoking, three years for 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, and three more years for moderate exercise.

If your job keeps you moving about on your feet all day, additional exercise may not be necessary. If you’re on your feet and moving about some, you may need an additional half hour of exercise. If your job is sedentary and most of your time is spent seated, an hour of daily exercise would be good.

The British government is officially backing the study and encouraging citizens to make these small adjustments in their lives. As U.K. Health Minister Caroline Flint told BBC News, “This is about showing people that there are everyday, simple choices they can make in their lives which will have a direct impact on their health. Eating an extra piece of fruit or walking up the stairs can help people add years to their lives.”