Maybe conscious calorie restriction is not the goal anyway. I think when you are getting all the nutrition then you may not be hungry anyway. Maybe it's an efficiency gene? I love effciency so I'm probably biased. Ramble, ramble.  Sorry if I veered too far off the point of the blog-- having those genes ramp it up. Great entry.

Random person I connected with because of our dogs posted this in her Facebook notes. Not sure if the link will work for you.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/patti-turner/middle-aged-mice-on-bcaas-live-12-longer/449157568319

Middle-aged Mice on BCAAs Live 12% Longerby Patti Turner on Friday, October 8, 2010 at 12:37pm

Mice given BCAAs in their drinking water enjoy healthier and longer lifespans, reports a new study.

Scientists are actively seeking aging-intervention strategies to help people maintain their youth in anticipation of a sharp rise in the elderly population – due to the “baby boomer” generation – and an unprecedented number of elderly in North America and throughout the developed world.

Now, a new study in the October issue of Cell Metabolism reports that middle-aged, male mice given a cocktail of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) – leucine, isoleucine, valine – in their drinking water lived an average of 12 percent longer (869 days compared to 774 days) than middle-aged, male mice drinking regular water.

The scientists, from Milan University, found that the BCAA-fed mice exhibited similar changes as those seen with calorie restriction or resveratrol supplementation, showing an increase in longevity-gene SIRT1 activity and an increase in cardiac and skeletal muscle mitochondria levels.

The treated mice also showed improved exercise endurance and motor coordination, and had fewer signs of damage from oxidative stress.

In future studies, the researchers plan on performing similar experiments with female mice.

“This is the first demonstration that an amino acid mixture can increase survival in mice,” said lead researcher Enzo Nisoli, referring to prior studies that showed that the cocktail of BCAAs extends lifespan in yeast.

Getting BCAAs in the Diet

Nisoli suggests that older people may find similar anti-aging benefits from including BCAAs in their diets by eating protein or taking supplements high in BCAAs as part of a complete “nutritional approach” for aging gracefully.

Supplements of BCAAs are widely used by athletes, including bodybuilders, because they help to trigger protein synthesis and drive muscle growth, especially when taken within 20 minutes after workouts.



http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/retrieve/pii/S1550413110003049

I believe that taking in excess calories causes the body to use its energy more for digestion.  The energy could be used for healing and repairing instead.  If the stomach is always stuffed full, the energy all goes towards digesting, and other tissues will break down more quickly i think.

When you are full, you can't think as sharply, or exhert yourself fully as you could, because this energy is at your stomach breaking down the food.

Thats the qigong explanation for how calorie restriction extends life!!  Just like in all things, a balance must be found for the best calorie to healing ratio i believe.  It is math!

yes to all you said.. Easy E.. Right on.. Eat Right and things start to fall into place..  and then build on the courrage you are developing to live right, you need it to live longer.. which is by it self not so hot.. but at least if one must burry all their friends kids and cousins, then at least be healthy enbough to be able to do so...