Eat Less, Live Longer : secrets to anti-aging

One day, as you gaze into the mirror, looking at your wrinkled face with gray hair, a wistful thought may cross your mind, ‘Oh, I wish I could go back in time when I was young and beautiful.’ However, you can never stop aging. You are actually aging right now, at this moment, reading this article. No human being in this universe can stop aging, not me, not you, not even Elon Musk. But the good news is that you might be able to slow them down just by eating less ! 

A lot of scientists claim that calorie restricted diets may unleash the secrets of anti-aging. Eating less calories appeared to slow the pace of aging and provide substantial health benefits. In 2009 July, American science journal <Science> published a study on how the monkeys who had diets of 30% calorie restriction lived longer and that their symptoms of aging were suppressed. So how was this possible? To understand, let’s dive a little deeper into the field of biology.

Mitochondria and Aging

The key to connecting calorie restriction and longevity lies in ‘mitochondria’. Mitochondria typically utilize sugars derived from meals to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which serves as an energy source. As we age, mitochondria becomes inefficient and experiences an increase in the emission of reactive oxygen species(ROS) due to a decrease in the removal substance of ROS. This phenomenon increases ROS in our cell, causing aging. However, when calories are restricted, the longevity gene ‘sirtuin’ comes into play. As a result, genes necessary for the synthesis of mitochondria begin to function, leading to the continuous creation of new mitochondria. The newly formed mitochondria actively produce ATP and become highly efficient with reduced emission of ROS. Therefore, the emergence of efficient mitochondria helps maintain cellular functions and prevents aging from occurring easily. 

Although this might be a new possibility in the anti-aging world, some scientists also claim that it is uncertain whether the effects of calorie restriction apply only in cases of overeating. Activating longevity genes through calorie restriction and increasing efficient mitochondria is undoubtedly valid. However, whether calorie restriction in primates actually leads to longevity remains unknown at this point.

In conclusion, while the quest for anti-aging may remain elusive, the promising link between calorie restriction and anti-aging signals a light of hope. The mitochondria and the activation of longevity genes through controlled calorie intake offer a compelling avenue for maintaining vitality as we age. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of this biological interplay, there's reason to be optimistic about the potential for healthier and more vibrant aging !