What is CRON (was Elle magazine)

[Guest guest]

Rodney said:

" People who have knowedge of things like CRON can try to send a

message. But if that message is ignored. If it is (in effect)

ridiculed. If those on the receiving end of it do not care enough

about their health to make a little effort to find out the facts for

themselves and then do something ... then why should the experts, and

us here, care? "

One of the problems that I see in getting the message out is that

nobody can define " CRON " in practical terms. In the laboratory,

Caloric Restriction (CR) is implemented against a standard: animals

fed ad libitum. In this way, scientists can say that one group is

being fed 30% less than the control group. Nothing similar exists for

humans. I have tried to convince you that the -Benedict

equations and a BMI of 22 could be used as an objective reference

point, but this suggestion has received a lukewarm reception. The

bottom line is that there is no widely accepted way of measuring

percent of caloric restriction for humans.

Equally undefined is the term Optimum Nutrition (ON). We can

theoretically say that ON is a diet that has everything that you need

to thrive. So, where are the perfectly balanced chow pellets for

humans? They don't exist. We tend to put our philosophical ideas

ahead of our nutritional needs. People who don't eat meats because of

religious or ethical principles clearly are in this category. But

each of us has preferences or idiosyncrasies that may prevent us from

getting the perfect balance of nutrients. When was the last time that

you ate liver, or kidney pie? Have you ever eaten tripe or brains?

Yuck! is the typical reaction. Yet, optimal nutrition could require

something that we avoid because of philosophical or cultural reasons.

Our great genetic diversity also contributes to our inability to

define ON. It is probably impossible to have an optimum diet to which

nobody is allergic.

So what possible advise can we give about CRON when we can only talk

in generalities? How can we not be misunderstood?

I think that we have a better chance of defining CR than ON, but I am

not holding my breath.

Tony