Our obsession with longevity
Biomarkers suggest a very low-calorie diet might slow human aging. Compared to a control group, people who ate 25 percent fewer calories than the recommended daily allowance (and people who ate 12.5 percent fewer calories than the RDA while getting 12.5 percent more exercise) developed lower body temperatures and significantly lower insulin levels and DNA damage, which correlate with longevity. This follows previous studies in which 1) a very low-calorie diet apparently slowed heart aging in humans and 2) animals on such diets exceeded their species' maximum life spans. Proposed mechanism: Your body slows down to keep you alive, because it thinks you're starving. Possible conclusions: 1) Put down the sandwich and back away slowly. 2) Wait to see whether people with better biomarkers live longer. 3) Cauliflower and oats for dinner again? Kill me now.1
I recently picked a new primary care doctor. After two visits and exhaustive lab tests, he said I was doing "fairly well" for my age. A little concerned about that comment, I couldn't resist asking him, "Do you think I'll live to be 80?"
He perked up and asked, "Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?"
I said, "No, my former doctor said that all red meat is very unhealthy!"
"Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like swimming, running, playing golf, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?"
"No, I don't," I said.
He asked, "Do you drive fast cars, or have a lot of sex?"
"No," I said. "I don't do any of those things."
He looked at me and said, "Then, why do you care?"
Christianity has a fine tradition of misery equating to righteousness. Life was not meant to be enjoyed and if you're having a good time, then God is going to send you to Hell for eternity to make sure you suffer. Don't get that. I dated a guy who was (is?) more or less addicted to diet Dr. Pepper. He used to say that it was probably shortening his life, but he just couldn't bring himself to give it up. My response was always, "Beh. We're all going to die. You may as well enjoy yourself while you're here."
I imagine Tony has some insight on the subject, closer as he is to the end of his run. Tony?