This is one of the most important questions to ask when looking younger. On the one hand, there is a school of thought that says you should eat very little. The latter strategy is what’s called Calorie Restriction and does exactly what it says on the tin. The claim here is that by restricting calories, you can reduce the rate of your Aging and thus stay looking younger, and longer. How does this work? According to proponents, eating less means that your mitochondria work less and thus produce fewer free radicals as a result.
The body is forced to rely on ketones, and it becomes very energy efficient eating a low-carb diet could have a similar effect, as could intermittent fasting. Studies show that mice that live on very low-calorie diets can extend their lifespan by as much as 30% and there are plenty of enthusiastic people online trying this strategy right now. Does it work for humans? It’s currently too soon to tell. But with all that said, there are definite drawbacks to this strategy too. For one, it makes malnutrition likely. While proper calorie restriction shouldn’t lead to malnutrition, it is of course much harder to get everything your body needs while eating a very low number of calories. It’s also largely unfeasible for a lot of us and not much fun.
As we age, our skin becomes thinner and we start to carry less subcutaneous fat. Thus, we start to look a lot more drawn. Compare a thin old lady to an old lady who eats a lot though and you’ll find that the latter looks younger because their skin is smoothed out by the layer of fat beneath. Meanwhile, they will usually have more color and be healthier. Some women claim that as they start to approach their 50s and 60s, they are forced to make a choice between ‘face’ and ‘body’. What should you do? That’s entirely your call but just make sure that whatever method you take you are emphasizing nutrients in your diet!
- Misty Cassady