Most readers know that when it comes to calories, more is definitely not better. But what exactly are benefits of calorie restriction? Boston Globe science writer Karen Weintraub put the list below together to accompany a feature about the latest calorie restriction research.
Surgery: A study by researchers at the Harvard Medical showed that kidney donors who ate 30 percent fewer calories for three days and then fasted entirely for one before surgery recovered faster than people who ate whatever they wanted before the procedure.
Spinal cord injuries and strokes: Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that mice who fast every other day immediately after a spinal cord injury or stroke recover much more mobility than mice allowed to eat whatever they want.
Cancer: Research in mice and early studies of people suggest that cancer patients benefit from fasting for at least two days before chemo and a full day afterward.
Weight loss: Research at the Genesis Prevention Center at University Hospital in South Manchester, England found that women who ate extremely low-calorie diets on alternate days lost the same amount of weight as those who followed a typical Mediterranean weight-loss diet. Those who fasted also had lower levels of insulin.
Alzheimer’s disease: Researchers at the National Institute on Aging found that mice vulnerable to a rodent equivalent of Alzheimer’s are less likely to develop memory problems if they are fed at intervals, rather than allowed to eat as much as they would like.