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Americans are aware that supersized portions and late-night snacking aren’t good for their
waistlines. But new research finds holding off on dessert or doggy-bagging those entrée extras
can actually improve quality of life…and might even increase your lifespan.
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Recent research has shown anti-aging benefits from a twenty to forty percent reduction in daily calories. Now University of Florida scientists say even trimming calories slightly, especially in combination with moderate exercise, could boost the body’s battle against oxidative stress. This form of cellular damage can cause cell death and premature aging. To test calorie-cutting’s benefits in a controlled way, researchers lowered the amount of calories a group of rats consumed by eight percent a day, while allowing another group to eat as much as they wanted. Tests confirmed that oxidative stress and inflammation in the cells were greatly reduced in the animals whose calories were restricted.
Dr. Christian Leeuwenburgh / UF aging expert
“In this study we only reduced the calories by eight percent, so this may be something more applicable to humans and may be more advisable to perform in humans. And we saw that caloric restriction had a significant effect on the levels of oxidative stress ---they were reduced.”
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The study also looked at calorie-restricted rats that had exercise wheels in their cages.
Combined with food reduction, moderate exercise offered some additional leverage against high oxidative stress levels. Researchers add that reduced caloric intake actually promoted voluntary exercise in rats that had exercise wheels. Meanwhile, rats that were offered all they could eat were less active, effectively becoming couch potatoes. While more research is needed, experts say slight reductions in total calories, combined with exercise, is also a crucial combination for people.
Dr. Christian Leeuwenburgh / UF aging expert
“To combine moderate exercise with moderate caloric restriction is ideal. caloric restriction is clearly effective against disease, and the exercise part will take care of staying independent, preventing frailty and keep you strong at an older age.”
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At the University of Florida Health Science Center, I’m Mike Garrison
