CR Web Resources -- Supported by NIH

[Guest guest]

Hello CR ALL:

The National Institute of Health (NIH) actually supports a

public website that is devoted to explaining and proclaiming

the benefits of Calorie Restriction. Who knows about it?

The link to the NIH supported website is given right here

below the broken line. Take a look at it, and be impressed

that CR is genuine science. This extract posted below the

broken line comes from the latest newsletter published by the

Immortality Institute:

http://www.imminst.org/

Even for immortalists, CR is important.

So CR is important for you too.

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What is CR? In short, a CR diet aims at reducing your intake of

calories to 20-40% less than is typical, while still obtaining all the

necessary nutrients and vitamins. For mild CR, this may mean as little

as switching from high-calorie, processed, rich foods, taking a few

supplements and not eating snacks.

Many reputable health sites maintain an informative section on CR.

InfoAging, funded by the NIH, is a good example:

http://www.infoaging.org/b-cal-home.html

Unfortunately, these sites often exaggerate minor disadvantages and

difficulties experienced by people who practice CR. An article from

MSNBC a few weeks ago even used the word " torturous " to describe the

experience of trying CR! Quite contrary to the information in these

articles, practicing CR is no harder than any other diet change. I have

certainly found it considerably more enjoyable and effective.

Many of the beneficial effects of CR stem from dietary changes

necessary to eat fewer calories without becoming hungry. For example,

processed sugars and rich dairy products can be replaced with rice

dishes and steamed vegetables. I've spoken with many people who link

processed sugar with depression and mood swings. Cutting out processed

sugars (candy, pastries, pasta, and so forth) was reportedly far more

beneficial than antidepressants in some cases.

I should mention weight loss in the context of CR, even though it is

not a primary goal of a CR diet. It is widely agreed that being

overweight is harmful. Many recent articles suggest that being even

slightly overweight is very bad for you. It is an excellent idea to

check your Body Mass Index (BMI) and see what the doctors say about

your weight. It was certainly a kick in the pants for me when I first

did that some years ago (while I was a good 30-40lbs heavier than I am

now). Find out more about BMI at the following site:

http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/