Want to Live Longer?

According to a new study, published in the journal Rejuvenation Research, has found that if you want to live longer you need to cut calories. Until now this statement was proved in animal system but now this new study has tested ---and proved--- this hypothesis on humans. This may be the first time that this hypothesis has been tested in humans.

Research conducted at the New Saint Louis University suggest that cutting the daily calories intake could be an excellent strategy to live younger. Cutting calories has been shown to decrease the processes associated with aging in animal systems, mainly rats and mice. It has been hypothesized that the key in the process of slowing aging by calorie restriction likes in the decreasing of a thyroid hormone known as T3 (triiodothyronine). T3 in known to affects metabolism by slowing it.

More specifically, the new study has found that a simple reduction of 300-500 calories per day may have the same effect on humans, that is, may slow the aging process. The leader of the new study is Dr. Edward Weiss, Professor of nutrition and dietetics at New Saint Louis University.

Dr, Weiss study provides strong evidence that calorie restriction is as effective as in animal systems in slowing the processes related to aging. However, he cautions that due to the short-term nature of the study a more complete long-term research in needed.

In the new study, Weiss wanted to see in calorie restriction could affect the levels of T3 on humans. So he recruited volunteers, which included sedentary and non-smoking men and women between 50 and 60 years old with body mass indexes a little bit higher than the normal values. These volunteers had good health and did not have any diabetes, cardiovascular disease hypertension or any evidence of known diseases. The study lasted one year.