Monkeys live longer on low-cal diet; would humans?

breitbart ^ | 7/9/09 | ap

[Nachum]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Eat less, live longer? It seems to work for monkeys: A 20-year study found cutting calories by almost a third slowed their aging and fended off death. This is not about a quick diet to shed a few pounds. Scientists have long known they could increase the lifespan of mice and more primitive creatures—worms, flies—with deep, long-term cuts in what should be normal consumption.

Now comes the first evidence that it delays the diseases of aging in primates, too—rhesus monkeys living at the Wisconsin National Primate Center. Researchers reported their study Friday in the journal Science.

What about those other primates, humans? Nobody knows yet if people in a world better known for pigging out could stand the deprivation long enough to make a difference, much less how it would affect our more complex bodies. Still, small attempts to tell are under way

[bill1952]

This is not new news.
I read about this back in the 60s.

[xcamel]

Lomg since proved “yes” many times over.

[xcamel]

er.. long, even.

[SonOfDarkSkies]

Monkeys live longer on low-cal diet; would humans?

This has been establish for many species from humans down to fleas. I will try to find a link to some of the old research.

[Sig Sauer P220]

I believe humans would live longer, but they would start flinging sh1t at monkeys who are watching them.

[Sacajaweau]

Why are you telling me that I should do as a monkey?? I don't like ants, swing from trees or beat my chest. I've also worked from age 12 up to the present (not counting the early home chore years).

Everytime I see a monkey, he's walking aimlessly or chomping on something. Tell him to get a job and maybe he won't live so long!!

What I have never seen is a monkey doing "heavy work"....In fact, I don't see much of it in the animal kingdom.

[Sig Sauer P220]

What I have never seen is a monkey doing "heavy work"....In fact, I don't see much of it in the animal kingdom.

Or on the welfare rolls.

[TSgt]

This has been proven to be true as well as these side effects:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-10-23-bare-minimum-diet_x.htm

1.) Low libido
2.) Crankyness
3.) No “reserves” if faced with a serious illness

The fact is that you are going to die of something. Walking around hungry everyday isn’t my idea of a fufilled life if it only buys me a couple years. I’m on a 1500 calorie diet now in an attempt to shed 15 final lbs after losing 50. Believe me, it sucks being hungry all the time.

[allmendream]

Indeed. In an experiments with the anti-geriatric effects of low calorie diets in rats, they also noticed that they got even OLDER if you turned the temperature down to near freezing.

A nearly frozen half starved rat may live a lot longer.

But I'd rather be a well fed warm rat and live a shorter life.

[Paradox]

The answer is probably yes, and this has been known for decades. We haven't really had any long term studies on humans that have actually looked at eventual mortality rate, but all the markers point to significant life extension.

There are many downsides though, as given in previous posts. I do think there is probably a happy medium, where people can live long, productive, happy lives, while consuming significantly less calories than most people do today (ie, we are a FAT society).

[Nachum]

I’m on a 1500 calorie diet now in an attempt to shed 15 final lbs after losing 50. Believe me, it sucks being hungry all the time.

I have experience the hunger thing too. Once you are at your desired level, that works itself out. It just takes time to get used to it.

[Nachum]

But I'd rather be a well fed warm rat and live a shorter life.

I chose to be a little hungrier and live longer.

[truthguy]

This is not new news. I read about this back in the 60s.

Bill, you beat me to it.

[allmendream]

I prefer to maintain a healthy body weight and have a high libido, a good mood, a caloric reserve; and live a long happy and productive life.

[Buckeye McFrog]

dealing with the coming buraucratic army of Federal Health Care Nazis will be bad enough without having them force-feed me bananas...

[Maceman]

This is not new news. I read about this back in the 60s.

What's new is that these days we're likely to have the President appoint a "Calorie Czar" to ensure that the citizenry doesn't exceed the recommended allotment.

[Jewbacca]

FWIW, I have several Shoa survivors in my family that never really gained weight back, and are now quite old.

Their “luckier” brothers and sisters who escaped a bit earlier are mostly dead.

[Jeff Chandler]

Ah, a health related thread. This is going to be a long thread. Add in some recipes, pets, and bikini photos, and it would go on forever.

[Nachum]

I prefer to maintain a healthy body weight and have a high libido, a good mood, a caloric reserve; and live a long happy and productive life.

I agree. But what if that caloric reserve gives you high cholesterol and high blood pressure? I know men who thoought that way who just now recovering from their last bypass.