Do you want to live longer? It's better to go hungry than to walk!
Scientists have explained why a low-calorie diet prolongs life more effectively than physical activity. A group of German zoologists studied the effect of nutrition and exercise on the lifespan of mice. The researchers published their results in the American Journal of Physiology.
Researchers led by Douglas Hufman conducted their experiments based on previously obtained facts. In previous experiments, it was shown that mice that regularly receive physical activity, on average, live longer than their "lazy" counterparts who receive the same nutrition. The beneficial effect of exercise is explained by the fact that they prevent the development of certain diseases. Accordingly, the lifespan of physically active mice increases.
However, the life expectancy of long-lived mice from the group receiving physical activity was comparable to that of long-lived mice from the physically inactive group (provided that the mice in both groups received the same amount of food). Thus, exercise can prevent early death from diseases, but by themselves do not prolong life. At the same time, the life expectancy champions from the group that received significantly less food lived much longer than the record holders from the physically active group.
All these facts confirm that reducing the amount of calories consumed is a more effective means of protecting against diseases than physical activity. In addition, fasting as such in some cases can increase life expectancy.
In physiology, two main theories have become widespread, explaining the great benefits of fasting compared to physical exertion. According to one of them, exercise has an additional burden on the body, causes tissue damage, and can also increase the likelihood of mutations in DNA. Another theory suggests that fasting causes physiological changes that prolong life expectancy.
Hufman and his colleagues decided to check which of these theories is legitimate. In their experiments, they used an integrated approach and measured many different factors. They showed that mice who received as much food as they wanted had higher levels of insulin in their blood. Accordingly, the risk of developing diabetes increased. In addition, the "gluttons" increased the level of insulin-like growth factor IGF-1, which is involved in the regulation of cell growth and death. The amount of insulin and IGF-1 in the blood of physically active mice was minimal.
The researchers also found that compared to the other groups, mice that did not receive physical activity, but ate an unlimited amount of food, had the maximum level of DNA damage. This indicator increases with age, but fasting by itself or combined with physical exertion can slow down the process.
Thus, scientists have shown that exercise does not lead to tissue or DNA damage strong enough to shorten life expectancy. On the other hand, their study confirms that fasting promotes metabolic changes that ultimately prolong life.
Humans may have similar mechanisms at work. There is a limited amount of experimental data confirming that fasting causes similar biochemical changes in humans. However, conducting experiments related to reducing the amount of calories consumed in humans is difficult, since the "test subjects" complain of a strong feeling of hunger and weakness and often stop participating in the experiment.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru14.05.2008