From ACA
Tue 16/10/07
By ACA staff
While most of us struggle with the latest fad diet and excessive exercise plans, one scientist claims the way to stay lean into old age — and even enjoy a longer life — is to just eat less. Sounds simple, but is it good for your health?
Professor Everitt, a physiologist with Sydney University, has been eating around 20 percent less than the minimum calorie intake recommended for men — and has been doing it for much of his adult life. As a result, he has managed to slow down his bodily functions and he argues, increase his longevity.
"Calorie restriction has effects in reducing body functions in just about all tissues that have been looked at," he said.
"Not only does the heart beat more slowly, the blood pressure would fall and I would say the blood cholesterol would come down. So everything is operating at a slower rate."
"Therefore it (the body) lasts longer."
The lifestyle change is based on the principle that people who eat fewer calories are less likely to have common illnesses associated with ageing.
A similar eating principle is used in Japan and other parts of Asia where people eat less as they grow older.
Getting back to basics and eating simpler foods is great for the body, according to best-selling author Dr John Tickell.
"Let's get back to being like those healthy, happy, long living people in the Asian villages and Japanese villages," he said. "It's very simple food and what I call low H-I, low Human Interference."
Not all diet experts though think lowering your calorie intake is a great idea.
"The people who are living to 120, it's not simply because they've cut back on their diet," said nutritionist Claudette Wadsworth. "Yes that does have an effect but…its' really important to look at the quality of the food that they're eating and changing to those things in your diet ."
Eat less, live longer
Detox tips
(From Ninemsn)
Healthy = hot! Check back here each week for little tips you can integrate into your daily routine. Loving your body starts here. Try this:
After the sluggish winter months, summer makes everyone want to cleanse! Here are some tips on dietary detox ...
While there is no scientific evidence to support the notion that the body needs to be "cleaned out" as the kidneys and liver do a very good job at ridding our bodies of unwanted bugs. Getting rid of the additives, caffeine and processed foods does tend to make the body work a little more efficiently in terms of ridding itself of waste, improving energy levels and clearing skin and eyes. So, here are some simple detox steps to get you started.
Simple steps to Detox
1) Plan to "detox" for a week at most
2) Drink at least 2 litres of water each day
3) Cut out the caffeine in tea, coffee, chocolate and cola drinks (yes, you will get a headache). Herbal teas can be used
4) Bump your vegetables up to at least 3 cups each day
5) Snack on either fruit or a handful of nuts
6) Get rid of fatty and processed meats and stick to tuna or salmon only
7)Some people also like to get rid of wheat and dairy. That is up to you
8) Try adding in a vegetable soup at night to rid the body of extra fluid that can make us feel tired
Sample detox plan:
Breakfast: Fresh fruit and thick Greek style yogurt OR oats with milk
Morning tea: Fruit
Lunch: Tuna/bean salad with Mountain bread
Afternoon Tea: Handful of nuts
Dinner: Steamed fish/Vegetables
Dessert: Baked apple
You can see that this type of eating plan is difficult to sustain but will make you feel reenergized and refreshed if followed for 5 days or so. Please note, any dietary information is a suggestion only and cannot replace specific health advice for an individualized advise from your own GP or dietitian.
