The calorie restriction diet involves a 30-40% reduction in calorie intake, with a focus on nutrient-dense foods and supplements to maintain overall health. Research suggests it may lead to a longer lifespan and improved health, but it should be approached carefully and with medical consultation.
Although most weight loss diet plans recommend a reduction in calorie intake, a calorie restriction diet takes that advice one step further. A true calorie-restricted diet really emphasizes a longer, healthier lifespan, with weight loss as a side effect. The calorie restriction diet requires a 30-40% reduction in total calorie intake, but nutritional supplements are often used to maintain overall health. That’s why some proponents refer to the plan as CRON, short for Calorie Restriction, Nutrient Optimal.
Research on the calorie restriction diet and its purported benefits dates back to the 1930s. Modern research on test animals showed that a diet just above the starvation level allowed subjects to live an average of 30 to 40% longer. more than control groups on normal diets. Proponents of the caloric restriction diet believe that the test subjects ultimately improved their food processing efficiency. Having an excessive amount of calories in the body causes many systems to quickly burn out from overwork and inefficiency.
The calorie restriction diet emphasizes natural, nutrient-dense foods rather than the highly processed or sugar-laden snacks most of us eat. By forcing the body into a state close to starvation, but preventing the loss of vital nutrients, dieters attempt to shift their digestive chemistry to that of our caveman ancestors. Muscle tone is said to improve dramatically on a caloric restriction diet, and much less fat is stored in the body.
Claims of a significant extension of lifespan are still being investigated, but proponents of caloric restriction dieting often report fewer age-related problems compared to their peers on normal or excessively caloric diets. Arteries and veins seem to harden at a much slower rate, and dieters in their 50s often appear to be at least a decade younger.
As with any diet plan, a doctor should always be consulted before beginning. The calorie restriction diet is a carefully controlled lifestyle and diet plan, not simply a low-calorie diet. Literature on the proper way to start and maintain a calorie restriction diet is available at many bookstores and health food centers.
Practitioners advise beginners to drink plenty of water to counter the effects of hunger pangs, which may actually be signs of dehydration and not a signal to eat. Be sure to include beneficial vitamin supplements when reducing caloric intake. See a doctor if you are concerned about your body’s adaptation to diet and lifestyle changes.
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