– Fasting:
– Concept involves abstaining from food to decrease diseases and increase lifespan
– Dates back to 5th century BC, attributed to Greek physician Hippocrates
– Health influenced by diet, type of foods, calories ingested, and fasting duration
– No clinical evidence as of 2021 that fasting promotes longevity in humans
– Research on fasting and longevity ongoing
– Calorie Restriction:
– Widely researched intervention to assess effects on aging
– Involves sustained reduction in dietary energy intake
– Diet must provide sufficient energy, micronutrients, and fiber
– Some studies on monkeys showed lifespan extension with calorie restriction
– Limited evidence in humans regarding calorie restriction and lifespan
– References:
– Lee MB, Hill CM, Bitto A, Kaeberlein M (2021). Antiaging diets: Separating fact from fiction
– Longo, Valter D.; Anderson, Rozalyn M. (2022). Nutrition, longevity, and disease
– Flanagan, Emily W.; Most, Jasper; Mey, Jacob T.; Redman, Leanne M. (2020). Calorie restriction and aging in humans
– Mattison, Julie A.; Colman, Ricki J.; Beasley, T. Mark; et al. (2017). Caloric restriction improves health and survival of rhesus monkeys
– Various sources on fasting, calorie restriction, and longevity
– Health Benefits:
– Fasting may improve metabolic health and cellular repair processes
– Calorie restriction linked to potential reduction in chronic diseases
– Research suggests fasting and calorie restriction may improve insulin sensitivity
– Both methods may help in weight management and reducing inflammation
– Long-term health benefits of fasting and calorie restriction being studied
– Challenges and Controversies:
– Adherence to fasting and calorie restriction diets can be challenging
– Lack of consensus on optimal fasting and calorie restriction protocols
– Potential risks associated with extreme fasting or calorie restriction
– Ethical considerations regarding animal studies on calorie restriction and longevity
– Debate on the overall impact of fasting and calorie restriction on human lifespan
The relationship between diet and longevity encompasses diverse research studies involving both humans and animals, requiring an analysis of complex mechanisms underlying the potential relationship between various dietary practices, health, and longevity.
As of 2021, there is no clinical evidence that any dietary practice reverses the biological effects of aging.