nutrient rich® healthy eating

 Promotes cellular repair

 Inhibits the production of compounds that alter the structure of collagen

 Enhances energy-conservation mechanisms, including lowering body temperature

 Slows metabolic rate

A slowed metabolic rate can maximize your longevity potential. According to the metabolic theory
of aging, the more energy your body expends, the shorter your life will be. This theory compares the
way the human body works to a machine—if it is forced to work too hard and too fast, it will wear
out and break down more quickly. Essentially, by living "fast," you'll die young.

The best way to enhance longevity then, nutritionally speaking, (there are other ways) is to reduce
your calorie intake, while still meeting your body's nutrient needs. This will significantly reduce its
daily energy demands. This reduction in metabolic rate that accompanies what some call caloric
restriction has been consistently shown to prolong maximal lifespan up to 60% in a variety of
species.^142

This isn’t a change in the philosophy you are learning here; a reduction of calories as compared to
the amounts consumed in the Standard American Diet is very easy to do when you consider the
average person may be eating 500, 1000 or several thousand more calories than they need every
day. Even in calorie restriction circles (CR) a reduced-calorie diet may be 1600 to over 2000
calories. So calorie restriction is a term that is often misinterpreted.

Remember these are “nutrient rich” calories were talking about so that is a lot of food. Eating a diet
that is high in nutrients and appropriate in as many calories as you need, not more, can help you
achieve the same results without the harmful effects that accompany common dieting practices that
resort to unnatural deprivation (not including Intermittent fasting or periodic acute fasting which
you will learn a great deal about in Lose Weight the Nutrient Rich Way), and the elimination of
whole nutrient categories to lose weight only which is not longevity favorable.

The key to greater longevity may not just be cutting calories, though. Research has shown that
limiting animal proteins may be important as well. A recent review of aging experiments conducted
in mice and rats showed that restricting protein increased lifespan in 16 of the 18 trials.^143
According to the researchers, a decreased protein intake can explain about 30-50% of the increase
in longevity described by these studies.

While there have been few studies directly addressing the link between nutrient density and
lifespan in humans, the life-extending benefits of a 90% or more plant-based, nutrient-rich diet is
clearly demonstrated by the people of rural Okinawa, a group of islands that make up the
southernmost district of Japan. Okinawans have traditionally considered green leafy vegetables,
yellow root vegetables (like sweet potatoes) and soy as dietary staples, occasionally supplementing

(^142) Fontana L. The scientific basis of caloric restriction leading to longer life. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2009;25(2):144-150.
(^143) Richie JP, Jr, Leutzinger Y, Parthasarathy S, Malloy V, Orentreich N, Zimmerman JA. Methionine restriction increases
blood glutathione and longevity in F344 rats. FASEB J. 1994;8:1302-1307.