M2A! November Week3: Eat Less, Live Longer?
Image courtesy of Adriana Lukas
If you get a chance, be sure to check out the two part series that Sean Platt and myself had the chance to share at ProBlogger. It’s about the how’s and why’s of having a blogging buddy. Yesterday was part one and today, Darren will be publishing part two. Now back to our regularly scheduled blogging…
Eat less, live longer? You can type those words into Google and find all kinds of information on the subject. But the general consensus seems to be that those who restrict their diet to a more ‘lite’ amount of calories and portion sizes (based on your body size and activity level, of course) may add a few years to their life. And if nothing else, will probably suffer less health issues during their lifetime.
This, to me, makes absolute sense. I don’t need to see the research and/or findings of countless studies to believe the idea that our bodies do better when we seldom ‘overload’ their systems.
Eating just enough.
The other night I went out to eat with Liz and her mom. We decided on that nice chain restaurant, TGI…Forget what it’s called, and had a nice meal. After that, we stopped at an ice cream shop and had a wonderful dessert. But the fact was, I had a heavy dinner and a highly sugarafied dessert which left me waking up at 4am. Now I know this is not quite the same thing as just ‘eating more’, but it got me thinking about the subject.
My grandmother used to always say, “You should always leave the table just a little bit hungry”. This makes sense because it takes our minds 20 minutes or so to register all the food that we just ate. But it also promotes the idea of eating a little lighter than our taste buds would prefer.
I used this analogy in last weeks Motivate2ACTION! post, but it’s quite appropriate here. Our metabolisms are basically our fires burning inside us. And just like a fire, feed it too much wood and you’ll snuff out the flames. But if you put JUST ENOUGH to keep it at it’s optimal burn, you’ll have a strong, healthy fire that will produce the best heat possible.
I find that when I eat a somewhat heavy meal (or just a lot of protein) night after night, I eventually start to feel tired and lack the spark that I’m used to. But as I lighten things up a bit I can just feel my flames burning hotter and cleaner. I sleep better, have more energy and can even think with more clarity. In other words, my body gives me a big, “THANK YOU!”
Do different diets make a difference? Sidebar poll results…
If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been adding polls just under the current months M2A! badge in the sidebar that coincides with the topic. For this month I asked the question, “How would you categorize your diet?” Then I listed some common categories to choose from. So far this moth there have been 46 votes with these results:
- Balance of all foods: 35%
- Vegetarian: 33%
- High carbohydrate: 15%
- High protein: 9%
- None of the above: 7%
- Vegan: 2%
Based on those numbers it looks like many of you guys go for a good all around balance or lean more toward mostly/all veggies. So my question is, “Do you think the type of diet also plays a role in keeping our fires at an optimal burn?”
I’ve already stated that I think protein needs to be kept to a minimum for a clean, hot burn. It takes a lot more to digest it so, though it’s great for sustained energy, a little goes a long way.
The balls in your court…
I’m intentionally raising more questions than I’m answering because I know that most of you guys have a lot of great insight/opinions on this particular subject and I’d love to hear them. So take a minute to chew on this post (I couldn’t resist…) and then share your thoughts on the concept of ‘eating light to live right’.
Calorie restriction is proven to work in other primates, keeping them physically younger than those eating a higher calorie diet. Slowing down your metabolism (or your ‘fire’) does seem to have some positive effects on longevity… although it also slows down other things, such as physical development (This CAN be a good thing. As a large breed dog owner, I’ve heard more than enough about the dangers of overfeeding puppies who then grow too quickly with poor bone and joint health as a result) and hormone production. I wouldn’t be surprised if the latter will prove to lower the risk of hormone triggered cancers, but at the cost of other things we might value (say… our sex drives).
Calorie counting aside, I don’t really see a link yet between diet and living longer because of slowed metabolism. Exactly how would vegetables ‘burn’ slower/differently than meat? There are other reasons to eat mainly vegetables, but I’m not sure that’s one of them. Maybe I’m missing something.
Personally, I’m waiting for more human test results (and not just two-three people’s personal statements) on calorie restricting. In the meantime, I’m one of the ‘none of the above’s, who eat a primarily vegan diet with small portions of seafood 2-3 times per week and ‘whatever I am served’ when a guest in someone’s house.
Emma´s last blog post..Introducing the Etruscans
I would also disagree that restricting a diet would add a few years to your life, and not just because it implies that one would not have as much body fat. Over the long term, restricting anything, including your diet, would have more negative effects than positive ones. I believe a “diet” is really an overused term. Living healthy (or longer) could be achieved by examining caloric intake and maintaining an eating schedule based on one’s own body type, metabolism, and activity level.
Calorie restriction for someone who has a thin build, a high metabolism, and exercises regularly would be more detrimental than to someone who is slightly overweight, burns calories very slowly, and lives a less active lifestyle. I don’t see how restricting calories could a cure all for everyone or could be a cookie-cutter solution for everyone.
Maintaining a metabolism that constantly burns the calories you consume can be achieved by allowing the body to feel as if it could release (burn) them without going into starvation mode. All things being equal, if we generally restrict our body’s nutritional consumption, our bodies will horde the calories it consumes, storing them as fat. At the opposite end, if we constantly over consume calories, our bodies won’t be able to burn them fast enough, storing them as fat. Each person’s metabolism is different due to his or her unique physical makeup and physical behavior.
jared´s last blog post..You Must Do These 3 Things Before You Start Your Exercise Program
Wow! I’m surprised I’m the only vegan! I thought that about a third or a fourth of all vegetarians were vegan. Let me see if I can dig up any statistics on that…
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/features/archive_of_editorial/667
This page says that about one out of seven vegetarians are vegan. One-seventh of 33% is about 5%, so I guess it’s not surprising given a sample size of 46.
End statistics geek commentary. (:
Pace´s last blog post..Making a habit of being happy: 8 things that help me be happier
I agree with all your saying, Eric, but what I’d like to add is that it seems as though you are wonderfully in touch with yourself, your body, and your needs. My wife is this way, and I just never seem able to catch up. I need to be more in tune with myself.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..Redbook… An Excerpt
I had the same thought: um, of course. The less processed and unhealthy crap you put in your body, the longer you will live. We were designed to eat to survive- its only natural that plan is what will keep us in peak condition.
Kelly Turner
http://www.groundedfitness.com
Kelly Turner´s last blog post..Enough Already “Fitness Gurus”
I’m one of the balanced eater’s on the list. The big change I’m trying to make is 3 big meals a day. My goal is to eat 5 smaller meals a day and keep my metabolism. This way I also don’t over eat at those 3 meals.
Neil´s last blog post..Make Saving Automatic
There is a lot to consider here.
What are your goals for your body? To build muscle? Protein is essential to development, and not all protein is equal. As much as people would like to believe it, soy does not aid in muscle building like meat. Too much soy also has an impact on estrogen levels.
Is your goal fat loss? There is much evidence of low carb high protein diets (keeping fats in check) effectively aiding fat loss. A high carb % with a low calorie diet will result in fat and muscle loss, which will reduce your resting metabolic rate and your natural ability to burn fat.
Assuming you want to stay where you are at, I’d agree that the less processed foods the better. Since all bodies burn at a different rate, you can establish a baseline diet and adjust it based on what your goals are.
One of the best authors on nutrition I’ve read has been Chris Aceto. His books focus on bodybuilding, but the nutritional advise presented in them is more than worth the money even if you are not interested in working out.
See, this is why I love leaving posts open ended! You guys have SO MUCH insight and knowledge that I end up learning more knowledge than I’m giving! Thanks for sharing your brains and experiences with me.
@Emma: You raise some great points!
My basic thought behind the meat point was based on the fact that I can eat too much meat before I can eat too many veggies. It’s just always seemed like meat could much more quickly overload my ‘fire’. But I know, I not basing these thoughts on any kind of science.
@jared: I guess I wasn’t too clear here. I certainly don’t suggest anyone under feed themselves. I just think that we, as a society, tend to over eat and that finding that ‘perfect’ amount, and no more, is a healthy habit to fallow.
Thanks, though, for you excellent insight!
@Pace: I know, I thought there would be more vegan’s as well.
@Sean: I’ve always been super sensitive to my body and how things affect it. It’s one of those blessing/curse things.
@Kelly: Well said!
@Neil: Exactly! More frequent, smaller meals is the way to go.
@Chris: Your absolutely right! In the end it really comes down to the details. Everyone’s different. Thanks for elaborating on that point. Eric.
Hi Eric,
I believe in eating small meals throughout the day to keep the metabolism rate going high and have a consistent higher energy through out the day.
I read your post on Problogger.net, it was fantastic! You are doing great with your blog and keep up the good work.
Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger
Vincent´s last blog post..30 Days Challenge to a Healthier Body
Hi Eric,
Despite eating a low fat, vegan diet for 10 years, I always seemed struggle with low energy levels & excessive appetite, this and other issues caused me to re-think the veganism, so I’m now eating small amounts of animal foods (free range eggs and occasional fish).
The diet rules I try to follow are:
Avoiding sugar & refined carbs.
Basing each meal around a protein & accompanying vegetables/salad (less carb focused).
Not restricting fat quantity, just type (e.g. no refined/hydrogenated/processed vegetables oils, plenty of nuts, olive oil, coconut, avocados, flax seeds and other seeds).
I follow the No S diet rules – No Sweets, No Snacks, No Seconds, except (sometimes) on days that begin with S (weekends and “special days”). So I eat 4 times per day with nothing between meals apart from tea, coffee or water (I therefore make each meal count!). Plus, I do have treats at the weekends (and make those count too!).
I also loosely follow macrobiotic principles, but this is more by personal preferences than a significant conscious effort.
This approach is working well at the moment, I’m at a weight which I’m happy with, sleep well and have good energy levels.
Though everyone is different of course. I seem to digest & metabolise food very quickly, so the 4 meal per day approach & high fat intake keeps excessive hunger & fatigue away. My husband on the other hand only eats 2x per day, limits his fat intake & focuses on lean proteins & good carbs in order to have best energy and be able to sleep well (if he eats a heavy meal after 7pm he’s usually up all night!).
I guess everyone just needs to experiment to get their ideal fuel mix