Low Calories, Longer Life , Less DNA Damage - Why?
Several recent experiments were funded by a 12.5 million grant from the National Institute on Aging. Results from these are showing strong evidence that a reduced calorie diet consistently produces conditions associated with longevity in the body.
Prior clinical studies had shown this to be true in rodents.
The resulting conditions for longevity are cited here from the Press Release:
“Results from a controlled clinical trial indicate that overweight people who cut their calories by 25 percent for six months have reduced fasting insulin levels and core body temperature, two markers for which lower levels have been associated with increased longevity in humans. ”
Furthermore, the studies indicated less DNA damage, known to be associated with cancer and other diseases.
The Press Release stipulates the conclusions for longevity in rodents were true when the lower calorie diet was maintained for much of the rodent’s life. This extended testing has not been performed on humans, but testing will begin this year. Until this study begins, effects of such an intervention on human aging are unknown. But, current indications point to effects similar to those in rodents.
“Beyond its effects on fasting insulin levels and core body temperature, the low calorie diet also resulted in changes in some, but not all, of the metabolic factors that have been related to longevity or aging.”
Anyone willing to step out on an edge with me and venture a guess as to why these things are true?
Here’s my theory:
I think we’ll find a very simple mechanism at the core of why there is less DNA damage. So, simple as to be over-looked.
Why do we use chemotherapy? Simply stated, we bombard cells with enough poison to kill any cell that isn’t very healthy. This only leaves the strong cells living.
I believe a similar mechanism is at work in a lowered calorie diet. Since the bodies sources to supply its processes with needed ingredients are cut down, the body cuts down on processes. Weaker cells and components within the body will die and break down. Only the strongest and healthiest cells will continue to survive. Sounds a lot like chemotherapy doesn’t it?
)))see my comment about all this below((((
OK, now, let’s go crazy over the edge with this outlandish conjecture.
I think after this mechanism is discovered, we will find that a process very similar to chemotherapy will yield the same results.
)))see my comment about all this below((((
OK, now, let’s take it over the top.
I think the people using rotten food therapy to combat cancer have accidentally discovered these very things. I believe we will find they have many of the same changes for longevity as a side effect as well.
Sound crazy? Maybe so. But you heard it here first. Sit back and watch.
Regards.
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May 13th, 2006 at 4:49 am
Looks like my base thought process for my theory may be all washed up. I’ll need to consider another mechanism.
“Chemotherapy is a barbaric form of medicine, and new research is showing that even when it is called a “success” by western doctors, it is destroying patients’ future health by severely compromising their immune systems. How? By causing massive DNA damage that greatly multiplies patients’ risk of being diagnosed with leukemia and other diseases later in life.”
If this is true, is it possible a side affect of the DNA damage leads to a purging of weaker cells? This could have a net result of only leaving the best and strongest cells if the testing is performed later in the cycle.
I’ll have to think about it some more.