Basic Pursuits

It has long been known that eating fewer calories induces a longer lifespan. This theory has been tested in a number of species, including this latest work from the University of Buffalo. It shows that rats eating a "normal" ad-lib diet, that is, they eat all they want, do not live as long or as actively as rats eating 40 percent of normal.

As the article points out, that is a tall order for humans. I figure my ad lib eating at about 2700 calories a day. If I were to drop that by 40 percent, I would be eating 1620 calories. I'm already pretty thin and lose weight when my eating gets down to 2300 calories a day. At 1620 calories, what would be left of me? I'll probably never know.

But this I do know. Eating too much really sucks. I may not live to be 120 eating my 2400 calories a day, but who doubts that my risk of some of the ever more common diseases springing from obesity is much, much lower?

Powered by ScribeFire.