Increasing lifespan & healthspan through diet

Life extension by substantial caloric restriction in a large number of organisms, including yeast, nematodes, fruit flies & rhesus monkeys has a history reaching back to the 1930s.¹

If living longer appeals to you, but a starvation diet doesn’t, there may be hope. Dr. Samantha Solon-Biet at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, has demonstrated in mice, that similar results can be achieved with a low-protein-high-carbohydrate diet. No reduction in overall caloric intake is required, apart from that consistent with normal weight control.

Transcript & podcast of an interview with Dr. Norman Swan at:

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/increasing-lifespan-healthspan-through-diet/6511294
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¹ “Caloric Restriction” http://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/lifestyle-longevity/caloric-restriction/Page-01 / LPHC diets improve metabolic health LPHC diet mice metabolic benefits 40% caloric restriction without any actual caloric intake reduction Health Report ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation low carb diets increase longevity low carbs restricting total calorie intake improves health prolongs life span total calories proteins carbohydrates fats reduce calories 30% 40% live longer no evidence in humans lifespan health span reducing calorie intake improve insulin sensitivity lower blood glucose improve lipid profiles in humans Cell Reports much extra lifespan calorie restriction 30% increase in lifespan significant in reasonable health proteins carbohydrates fats interaction macronutrients total calories fat in isolation protein in isolation carbohydrates in isolation all interact together compared low calorie diet macronutrient diet larger mouse study published Health Report 25 different diets energy density calorically restricted free access to food balance protein carbohydrate main driver of health span lifespan low calorie diet compare two nutritional interventions known to improve health and lifespan traditional caloric restriction low protein high carbohydrate diet caloric restriction mice metabolic benefits obesity loading up on carbohydrates carbohydrates increase risk of heart disease eat doughnut cake sugar balance healthy carbohydrates not sugar processed highly refined carbohydrates complex carbohydrates primary carbohydrate wheat starch very little sucrose diet fat fat was fixed 20% modern Western diet is about 40% fat low fat equivalent increased lifespan health span put on weight low protein high carb diet had better health a bit fatter compared to the high protein mice Brad Pitt abdomen washboard six pack thin thighs research researcher evidence low protein diets beneficial for humans paper published Cell Metabolism low protein diets reduce risk of cancers death in people over 65 evidence CSIRO diet inhibits appetite mouse researcher extrapolate to humans diet moderate protein intake low to moderate 15% protein high quality protein high quality carbohydrates low amount of fat thick T-bone steak small fish steak living longer little bit of extra body fat beneficial for survival extra energy stores Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Ageing metabolic syndrome diseases quality of proteins carbohydrates proteins branched-chain amino acids branched-chain amino acids building blocks of proteins branched-chain amino acids turn on specific metabolic pathways leucine isoleucine valine animal proteins very high in branched-chain amino acids manipulating in mice ratios of branched-chain amino acids diet fish meat high in fish reduce intake relative to healthy carbohydrates agriculture adjust amino acids Mediterranean diet very low in red meat lots of vegetables good fats healthy carbohydrates /