You have probably heard of low calorie diets like the 3-Day Diet and the HCG Diet.  These diets use extreme calorie restriction to help people lose weight quickly.  While they are quite popular, they have received some criticism from the medical community.  Some doctors and nutritionists have said that low calorie diets can cause a wealth of problems, and eventually, people who use these diets will gain the weight back.  Now, though, research has shown that low calorie diets can actually help people live longer, healthier lives.  Additionally, it is now believed that people can keep weight off when they follow a low calorie diet, as long as they eat nutritionally balanced foods.

Washington University Research

The Washington University School of Medicine conducted a study on extreme low calorie diets.  The researchers found that extreme calorie restriction lowers the core body temperatures in humans.  The core body temperature is the temperature needed for all functions to work as efficiently as possible.  According to some researchers, there is a link between a low core body temperature and improved efficiency.

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Additionally, Washington University researchers found that low calorie diets decrease the circulating concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa).  TNFa is a powerful inflammatory molecule, and lowering it can slow down the aging process in humans.  Because of that, some people are likening a low calorie diet to the fountain of youth.

Finally, researchers discovered that low calorie diets can increase the heart’s elasticity.  Increasing the heart’s elasticity allows it to pump more blood to the entire body. More blood means more oxygen, which means more energy.  Thus, those who practice extreme calorie restriction may notice increased energy levels.

CRONA

Washington University’s study proved that low calorie diets can help a person live a healthy life. Now, researchers want to know more about the quality of that life.  Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco are conducting the Caloric Restriction with Optimal Nutrition and Aging Study (CRONA).  They are testing the cognitive abilities, personality traits, impulse control skills and stress management techniques of participating calorie restrictors. The information gathered will be tested against people who eat the normal or more than the normal amount of calories in a day.  Once the comparisons are finished, researchers hope to have a complete understanding of the quality of the lives of calorie restrictors.

Going on a Low Calorie Diet

Now that this research has come to light, the number of people on low calorie diets will likely increase.  Those who decide to go on a low calorie diet need to follow two guidelines.  First, they should avoid empty calories, and second, they should stick with healthy foods that have lots of nutritional value.  Those who do that will be more likely to receive the health benefits of a low calorie diet.  Additionally, they will be more likely to keep the weight off since they will receive the nutrients they need to thrive.

Science has managed to change the way people view low calorie diets.   At one time, extreme low calorie diets were reviled, but now, they are considered a great option for many people.

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