After spending a day fasting this past weekend, I’m interested in learning more about the idea of a ‘calorie-restricted’ diet. Basically, the idea is that by cutting back the amount of calories one ingests — say, by reducing by 1/3 — while remaining nutritionally nourished, the organism will optimize bodily resources, which can lead to a longer, healthier life.

Sound too good to be true? … it probably is. Although, from the little that I’ve read, this concept has been tested in several organisms, among which are the housefly drosophila, yeast, and, most promisingly, primates. With the exception of the housefly, studies have demonstrated that the organisms tend to lead healthier, and thus longer, lives, which makes a very appealing case. Biologically, it is reasonable to think that Read the rest of this entry »