It’s very simple but you had to think about it.
All epidemiological studies show it: we eat too sweet, too salty, too fatty, and in too large quantities. To live longer and healthier, it is recommended to eat less. But, how concretely? Advice from Dr Christophe de Jaeger, a gerontologist and French researcher specializing in the aging of the human body.
The principle of calorie restriction is not new. It was first described at the beginning of the last century by a physiologist named Clive McCay, then it was greatly developed by the American doctor Roy Walford, a pioneer in the study of longevity. It was he who demonstrated that, when rodents ate to simply cover their caloric needs without nutritional deficiencies (concept of caloric restriction), they lived longer and in better health than others. The researcher observed a loss of fat mass, correlated with a virtual disappearance of cardiovascular risk factors. More precisely, in men, blood pressure decreased below 12/7mmHg. Cholesterol fell to values of a young subject and the level of bad cholesterol was very low, while sugars fell considerably. “But be careful, there was always physical activity because without physical activity, we see muscle loss, and then fat. Several studies have highlighted the benefits of calorie restriction“, comments Dr Christophe de Jaeger who tells us more about this “secret of longevity.
Excess food creates the basis for overload diseases. “The body is no longer able to manage what we give it through food, it stores it in fat and in all other cells, which will contribute to clogging our body in general and our cells. especially. When the body puts itself in a situation of caloric restriction, either naturally because we eat less, or artificially because we take certain medications such as Metformin, the cells will find themselves obliged to better manage their waste and our caloric supplements. The body must then seek energy wherever it can. Calorie restriction is almost ecology“, develops the gerontologist.
“The notion of calorie restriction is complicated in people’s minds because it is not a question of following a restrictive diet in the sense that one would not eat certain categories of food. It is simply a matter of ensuring the body meets its needs and just its needs by taking into account basic metabolism and physical activity.“, warns the aging specialist. Indeed, a sedentary person will not have the same caloric needs as a very active person.”For example, a logger in the Canadian forest may need 4,000 calories a day and be almost in calorie restriction because that is just what he needs.“, illustrates Dr. Christophe de Jaeger.
Everyone has a different metabolism and a different life organization. It is therefore necessary to define their needs for each individual and not go beyond them, while adopting food hygiene that does not involve deficiencies. “In practice, to make a quality calorie restriction, you should eat a lot more protein, reduce carbohydrates to a much smaller portion (20-25% instead of 50%), unless you do competitive sport. because the body needs carbohydrates to function. It is recommended to adapt your sports practice to the carbohydrate ration or the opposite. If you’re running leisurely around the lake, you don’t need a lot of carbohydrates, but if you’re aiming for performance, yes!“, explains our expert. To strengthen your health and live longer, it is recommended to eat little, well, and to practice real physical activity (performing 10,000 steps per day is not considered sufficient physical activity).
Thanks to Christophe de Jaeger, gerontologist and French researcher specializing in the aging of the human body, author of Aging well without medication from the age of 40 (Editions du recherche midi)
