Whenever we hear that we have to eat less in order to lose weight we start envisioning ourselves as being deprived and starving. Losing weight is one of the benefits of caloric restriction (CR). The truth is that reduction of our caloric intake may lead to anti-aging health benefits as well! Experimental studies have even shown that it is possible live longer by eating less calories. Let us take a look at how to slow aging with caloric restriction.

First of all, caloric restriction (CR) is not equivalent to malnutrition. Initially the goal is to reduce the number of calories consumed by changing what we eat instead of how much we eat. The simple truth is that many of the foods with the highest nutrient values are fruits and vegetables, which are naturally lower in calories. Therefore, if interested to slow aging with caloric restriction, one must consume a lot of lower calorie foods with dense nutrient value, like grains, legumes fish, fruits and vegetables.

Based on modern studies on primates, worms, mice and flies, a longer and healthier life is possible through a combination of a lower calorie intake and a nutrient dense diet. Along with the quantity comes the quality of life as diseases that indicate aging, such as heart problems, high blood pressure, dementia and the likes, are avoided.

Measurements taken of the regions of the brain that control cognitive ability and memory show that there is far less atrophy of brain tissue in the animals on a restricted calorie diet. The control group were fed healthy foods but allowed to eat as much as they wanted. This group showed all the expected signs of aging including brain atrophy and diseases of aging. Mice and rats which were on a 30% caloric restriction slowed aging by 30%-40%.

In general, the average human male consumes over 2600 calories per day. This is just an average number. There are no magic numbers for determining the precise number of calories that we should consume if we desire to slow aging with caloric restriction. People come in a variety of sizes, and have different metabolisms, meaning that some need more calories just to survive than would be enough to bring on obesity in others.

The key to slow down aging through less calorie intake is first by taking note of the number of calories taken in a day. Take note of this for a whole month to determine your average calorie intake. Lessen the amount of calories consumed by 5 percent on the second month. You should, however, be careful not to be left hungry or starving. The foundation of the whole process lies on the modification of one’s diet. The high calorie foods should be replaced with foods of lower caloric value which are rich in nutrients.

Go to your doctor and have him establish a baseline for you of cholesterol levels, fasting blood sugar, and blood pressure. Each month, reduce your caloric intake by another five percent. At the end of the month, see your doctor again and have these three numbers rechecked. If they show improvement, you may very well be slowing the aging process in your body. You can reduce calories by another five percent for another month and repeat the tests. When your numbers level out and stop showing improvement, you will have reached what should be the optimal caloric intake to assure you of a longer, healthier life.

A compound called resveratrol, found in red wine and grape skins, has been shown to have the same health and anti-aging benefits of caloric restriction. Studies at the University of Florida have shown that Resveratrol can mimic the effects of caloric restriction, “the hallmark of life extension”. If restricting your calories by 15%-30% seems too hard, why not give Resveratrol, which has similar health benefits, a fair chance? If you desire a longer and healthier life, it is your choice if you want to go for years through the pains of a restricted diet or try Resveratrol!