Would You Try It? Calorie Restriction Diet?

on March 25, 2009 at 11:33 AM

diet, scales, weight I saw these people on Oprah yesterday who do extreme dieting. They believe they'll live longer by practicing the calorie restriction diet.

They eat the minimum amount of food to stay alive. Some eat just 1,000 to 1,950 calories per day.

The surprising thing is, Dr. Oz says this diet may work. These dieters may have found the fountain of youth. But my question is, without eating food, who would want to live a long time?

I love my food.

People on the calorie restriction diet believe that they are triggering a genetic switch that slows the aging process.

In lab tests on mice, their theory has been proven correct. Researchers believe you might be able to extend your life by 50 percent by under-eating. How? When you restrict calories, your body understands that it doesn't have any resources to waste. It actually tells your body to reserve cells and live longer.

People on this diet need to make sure they get a lot of nutrition for each calorie they eat. They probably need to take vitamin supplements as well. And they should check the Calorie Restriction website for tips.

See my recent story on another related youth elixir called Resveratrol.

These dieters are super skinny. Do you think you could do it? Would you try the calorie restriction diet?

Filed Under: aging, alternative medicine, diets, in the news, nutrition, weight loss

Comments (16)

DevilynsMom

on Mar 25, 2009 at 11:41 AM

I think that I would be willing to try it. I mean its basicall y a version of the raw food diet. Juicing has always been knows to do well for the body etc. So yes I would. It would be hard but I always break the rules every once in awhile LOL

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wilesmomma

on Mar 25, 2009 at 12:12 PM

I think I would try it for awhile. Then once I am down to my goal weight, I would bring back food, but work extra hard at exercising. So I maintain a healtyh wieght.

on Mar 25, 2009 at 12:13 PM

But right now I am going to go enjoy some oreos with my DD!!

KeagansMom08

on Mar 25, 2009 at 12:27 PM

I am currently on the calorie restriction program but i wouldn't call it a diet. Its more of a life style change. You have to read labels and measure things out and it changes the way you shop and look at the foods you put in your body. You tend to have more energy so you do more and your whole lifestyle shanges. Its hard at first giving up eating a papa johns pizza but you get use to it. I eat abetwen 1000 and 1250 a day but i never feel hungry. I eat high fiber, low sugar carb meals which tend to be more filling so i never feel like i am starving my self. I agree with dr. oz that it is like the fountian of youth becasue i can not remeber the last cold i had or a day when i didnt feel well. I know i am young to be doing this kind of thing but it works for me and i have energy to get down and play with my baby which i didnt really have before

Amber115

on Mar 25, 2009 at 12:35 PM

Ok, maybe I am missing something here. Isn't that what every diet is? You lower your calorie intake and raise your activity level. It is the only "diet" I have ever really tried. I lost 70 pounds by controlling what I ate (which included cookies :) BTW). I guess now it has a name. :)

RettsMom

on Mar 25, 2009 at 12:44 PM

Makes sense to me. Less calories....less weight....increased activity....all leads to a healthier lifestyle which should improve one's longevity.

AgentBrez

on Mar 25, 2009 at 2:06 PM

Amber115, i was thinking the same thing!

marissa619

on Mar 25, 2009 at 4:51 PM

I'm thinking about trying it. Idk if I can give up my cocktails though! How long til energy is increased I wonder?

on Mar 25, 2009 at 4:58 PM

Does vodka have simple sugars?

aurorabunny

on Mar 25, 2009 at 8:57 PM

Every good diet is in essence a calorie restriction diet. Weight Watchers is a calorie restriction plan, they just call them "points" instead of calories. I've eaten no more than 1100-1300 calories per day for over a year now; I've lost 75 pounds and with exercise also I'm in the best shape of my life. I feel great. And believe it or not I eat a lot of food, it's just healthy food that is also naturally lower cal. I definitely don't go hungry!