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The Science Behind the Calorie Restriction Diet

dallasobserver.com — An SMU biologist thinks the secret to the fountain of youth may be found by putting fruit flies on a diet.

Who dugg this? Made popular Feb 20, 2009

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  • Kronich, on 02/19/2009, -3/+40Hmmmmm...Live an extra 5 years in a constant state of hunger or say "to hell with it and grab that second burger"....
  • numberneal, on 02/19/2009, -0/+21i've read a number of studies that substantiate this; i used to do the 1 meal and snack a day; it doesn't work if you're athletic; my blood sugar started dropping like the dow last fall, and i would feel like i was on acid. the 1st time i ate sugar after 3 months, it felt like i was watching batman begins in 3-d; i was ducking in the movie theater with every sword slice.

    doing sprints, pull-ups, abs, dips, shadow boxing, and a number of other calisthenics 6 times a week, my body couldn't hack it. my weight dropped to 135 lb's at 5'8. i was cristian bale in the machinist. i got on the dr. sears diet which is calorie restricted by default but controls your hormones - insulin, glucogen - by eating balanced meals - meats, fruits, mono-unsaturated fats and vegetables.

    don't go to extremes; eat balanced - protein - meats, carbs - fruits, vegetables, mono-fats - nuts, avocados, olive oil - 3 times a day and try to stay away from processed foods and sugar; @ least 5 times a week. you'll be good. i haven't gotten a bed-ridden flu in 5 years.
  • Tyrghast, on 02/20/2009, -2/+21Live, don't worry about how long. Do what you want, how you want, when you want and make sure each day you've spent doing something that enriches you. Happiness > long life.
  • minoss, on 02/20/2009, -0/+14The last 5 years are overrated anyways.
  • eastwood24, on 02/19/2009, -3/+12I think the quality of one's life is more important than quantity of one's life. And if someone under 50 or 60 is concerned about whether they will live to 80 or 100 should really take a step back and focus on something other than themselves.
  • NiftyG, on 02/20/2009, -1/+7I want 5 more years in the middle, not at the end.
  • elliotys, on 02/20/2009, -0/+5While this is an interesting new area of research, why do we always have to go to the extremes? Why not exercize a little more, and control your portion sizes. How bout a little discipline and moderation, rather than just crazy ***** diet *****.
  • HAL90000, on 02/20/2009, -1/+6Responsible hedonism.
  • NiftyG, on 02/20/2009, -0/+5It's pretty simple. Cut out the empty calories (white bread, sugar, etc...) and you'll naturally "restrict" your calories quite a bit. You'll also be less hungry because your body won't be screaming for nutrition it's not getting.


  • inactive, on 02/20/2009, -0/+5I'm fat. will it work for me.
  • Ne007, on 02/20/2009, -1/+5low calories and raw foods good for you?

    next they will tell us that exercise is good for you....
  • Commonwealth, on 02/20/2009, -0/+4But why?!
  • Nerdculture, on 02/20/2009, -0/+4I'd rather die 10 years earlier than go 20 years being constantly hungry. Seriously, 80-90 looks like it blows anyway.
  • latalianheat, on 02/20/2009, -0/+4resveratrol ftw?
  • neonoodle, on 02/20/2009, -0/+3I'm on a calorie restricted diet to lose weight right now, and I find it very hard to believe that the lady in the article eats 1200 calories a day when she only eats one meal consisting of steamed chicken, steamed broccoli and a cup of orange juice. I limit my calorie intake to around 900 - 1200 calories a day and I eat 3 meals a day. The meal that the lady described is 500 calories tops.

    For anybody looking to lose weight, I recommend tracking how many calories you're eating a day. A good site that I use to monitor this is sparkpeople.com
  • Frumbler, on 02/20/2009, -0/+3If your are unhappy and suffering it's almost impossible to bring happiness to others, unless they are total a-holes.
  • Emelius, on 02/20/2009, -1/+4I live in college, in the dorms. I have no access to any oven of any sort and my fridge is the size of a ***** shoe box. The horse ***** they feed us at the dorm cafeteria is packed with butter and salt and the only thing healthy they have are old salads and stale cereal.

    I have high blood pressure and i've gained some weight. Dear god, save me from this hell.
  • moulin1, on 02/20/2009, -0/+3There is one magical diet. It is the only diet. Eat less calories.
  • stix213, on 02/20/2009, -0/+3Someone needs to invent some type of pizza that tastes the same but your body just lets pass through you. Even though I am currently eating only about 1300 calories a day myself, this is really difficult for most people.
  • inactive, on 02/20/2009, -0/+3That's time enough for another beer.
  • inactive, on 02/20/2009, -0/+3I eat Chef Boyardee raviolis and drink beer - how long have I got?
  • phrenzy, on 02/20/2009, -0/+3DING. We have a winner. The "secret" behind just about every diet (especially "Atkins") is that you get full faster and longer when eating dense calories. Try eating a can of raw tuna. It will taste like ***** (less bad with lemon and pepper) but it WILL fill you up with a dose of 20grams of protein and basically no fat coming in at a whopping 90 calories.

    Now try eating two slices of white bread. 200+ calories, see how long that keeps you feeling full before your blood sugar drops and you start feverishly craving junk food.

  • pandorazboxx, on 02/20/2009, -0/+2that sounds like it would destroy your metabolism
  • heyitsguay, on 02/20/2009, -0/+2I'll go for anything, as long as it's based on Actual Science!
  • elipabst, on 02/20/2009, -0/+2"i've read a number of studies that substantiate this;"

    You need to be careful how you use the word "substantiate". In fact, more recent studies suggest that it isn't clear at all if this is something that works in humans. There are a number of organisms where this doesn't hold true, such as in houseflies. Even within the different lab strains of mice there are discrepancies about whether calorie restrict has any effect.

    The jury is definitely still out and I'm sure as hell not convinced enough to spend the rest of my life walking around half starved, only to have them turn around and say "whoops, sorry only works in worms and fruit flies!"
  • Kronos6948, on 02/20/2009, -0/+2This article wasn't about the benefits of not overstuffing yourself, but the benefits of being under-nutrined in comparison to having a full diet. You can have a full diet without loading yourself up with bad foods. Everything in moderation...
  • Kronos6948, on 02/20/2009, -0/+2I'd rather die young and happily satiated than old and hungry.
  • Frumbler, on 02/20/2009, -0/+2Those last 20 years are overrated anyway :)
  • Rivfader, on 02/20/2009, -0/+2If you are overweight like me, eat less and exercise more. There are no miracle diets. You will lose weight, you will feel better, and you will have way more energy. Alot of my problem is I tend to go out to eat alot as it fits my lifestyle. My lifestyle is the reason why I am overweight. So you must make changes to your lifestyle. When I go out for dinner I stay away from fried foods unless its my cheat day and I ask for a to go box as soon as I get my food. I put half of my dinner in the to go box and eat it the next day. You learn to eat slow and your stomach shrinks and you no longer care to eat so damn much. Also stop eating after 8 o clock at night. Stay away from soda and drink lots of water tea and healthy juice.
  • BCPneumatics, on 02/20/2009, -0/+2I don't understand how Americans are larger than Europeans... Identical food products there always seem to have 1000x the calories.

    (*Woosh* for most, not funny for others, but I did it for the one guy that chuckles.)
  • multiformat, on 02/20/2009, -0/+25-minutes.
  • Iwantawii, on 02/20/2009, -0/+2The availability of food in today's age is historically unprecedented. Our evolved bodies constantly crave high-energy foods (carbs, sugars, meats) to store for the next famine.

    Throughout the evolution of our species, meats and fruits and sugars came by much less frequently so our bodies reward our pleasure centers with great taste and desire for those foods. In times of relative famine, the bland pickings of the land and our fat stores kept us going until the next feast.

    So consider the possibility that great taste = body in storage mode.

    Now get this, I've struggled with weight most of my life, and recently I've lost 30 pounds in 3 months while eating whatever I want, whenever I want. Basically all I've had to do is consume 15% - 20% of my daily calories with completely flavorless foods.

    There is an experiment going on right now, and it's helping a lot of people end lifetimes of weight problems. The diet is called the Shangri-La diet by a gent named Seth Roberts. He has a website, active experimental forum users, and a book on the topic (which is like $12 on amazon, look him up).

    I know Digg is full of premature sensationalist comments, but I really think Mr. Roberts is onto something with his theories of taste and how they play a role in our burn/store relations due to our evolution. If you're in the mood to try something new, read up on the Shangri-La diet.

  • inactive, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1At least this gives me the illusion that the glass of red wine I drink most nights is justified
  • Frumbler, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1Where are you getting your numbers? Brits and Germans are right on par with the US. Germans just hide it better.
  • h00ligan, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1i'm 6'5" and 170 - and spent a lot of years at 140-150 (my senior year in hs was 185). I do not have a "fast metabolism" and have weighed as much as 225 (very briefly). Most people think i am in my mid 20's(i'm 32) and my health results are pretty much on the money every time...without frequent exercise and as a smoker. That said, having lived a reduced calorie diet most of my life, it can leave one quite tired... but i do believe that underweight, not malnourished, people will live longer on average than your average person... overweight is a duh.
  • keegangrayson, on 02/20/2009, -1/+2I get up and usually eat some eggs, cooked in different manners with a side of bread smothered in butter. I eat a sandwich, usually with some sort of cheese and meat for lunch. I eat pasta and dip my bread in olive oil at night for dinner, but I don't drink anything but water all day and for dinner I have a glass or two of red wine. I'm not very active. I focused on eating natural foods, water, and wine. After I started doing this I'm well within my optimum weight and even lost 5 pounds. I don't know how it works - especially after all the fatty foods I've eaten, but they are more natural foods and I have to say I feel great!
  • phrenzy, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1Do you know what life expectancy was during that period that humans were evolving?

    Hint: Not 70.
  • flamesoftheend, on 02/20/2009, -1/+2Thats ***** sweet.. But I eat probably 3000 callories a day and do a lot of running. Guess I'll die young and healthy
  • TempusEdax, on 02/20/2009, -2/+3Subjective assessment. How do you know happiness > long life? What if living a long life allows you to bring happiness to others, even though you yourself may be unhappy or suffering?
  • Frumbler, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1It already doesn't matter, hanging on is just an illusion.
  • keegangrayson, on 02/20/2009, -1/+2drink wine every day. it works.
  • FelixDrylock, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1"She credits CR with helping her pass her latest driving test without glasses for the first time."

    You heard it here first, folks! Nearsighted? A healthy low calorie diet will cure you of your vision problems!
  • Leopards, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1If this is the case then the people in Bangladesh and Ethiopia and other famine prone parts of the world must have some really long lived people!! I don't think so!!!!
  • groo68, on 02/21/2009, -0/+1Actually humans are naturally supposed to live however long they live, but they are only required to live 30 years. 30 years accounts for development, reproduction, and then raising offspring.
  • kingmanic, on 02/20/2009, -1/+2"Weight loss and gain seem to be based on a lot more than just calorie intake and exercise. Now, obviously, if you eat crap loads of crap and don't exercise you'll gain weight, but there is more to it than that."

    Ummm.. no. Unless you have some genetic disorder; reduced calories and excercise will reduce your weight. No exceptions. Even if you were taking in 1500 calories in pure sugar you would lose weight if that was all you ate. You would simply be malnourished. I'd agree being healthy involves more but weight loss is all calories and exercise. You cannot gain weight if the energy usage is greater than your energy intake.
  • falser, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1I consider 3 double cheeseburgers for lunch to be calorie restrictive, so I must be doing something right.
  • keegangrayson, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1hey, I'm in college too! you can at least drink a glass of red wine at the end of the day.
  • StuTheMeatMan, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1Haha thanks for saying the same thing again.
  • Ne007, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1It's been known for a long time that the more calories you consume the less length and quality of life you live.

    Less calories=longer life with better quality of health
    More calories=less life with less quality of health

    It's easy to picture the bell curve.
  • moulin1, on 02/20/2009, -0/+1How does obesity equate with quality of life?
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