In a message dated 10/25/02 4:00:44 PM, Matt Baker <[log in to unmask] writes:

<< ----- Original Message -----
From: "Adrienne Smith"
> How do those practicing calorie restriction keep their metabolism and body
> temps up?

They don't.  CRONies accept that low metabolism =  longer life.  Reports of
being/staying cold are common.

>And if they do not, doesn't that affect the quality of their
> extended lives

I would certainly think it's a Faustian bargain of sorts.  For myself,
*quality* of life in the Here and Now is veddy important.

>ie they may live longer but the may be tired, have low sex
> drive etc.??

Reminds me of "Not tonight, Honey, I'm tired."  <g>  Chronic tiredness and
low libido sound like bummers, don't they?  How good could either be for the
mind, body, and spirit, not to mention perpetuation of the human race?  Not
strong or energetic enough to hunt/gather food or plump up the cavelady on
the bearskin rug.

Theola
 >>

This exact issue was addressed only a few days ago, but perhaps you missed my
post. I think it is important enough that it bears repeating.

(Theola wrote)
>but avoiding exercise is little problem since many experience
lethargy/weakness.

Again, in animal experiments, this has not been the case. CR animals
generally not only live substantially longer than their fully fed comrades,
but are much more active and energetic as well. Among humans, there are many
on the CR list who, as you say, are plagued with a variety of serious health
problems, including, but not limited, to osteoporosis. There are also a
number of "Paleo-cronies" who, in my limited observational opinion, seem to
be a lot healthier. Many on the CR list are vegetarian or nearly so; some are
even vegan. Many eat extremely low fat/high complex carb diets. I don't think
I need to expound upon the folly of this type of diet here!<G>

I do agree with you, that any type of caloric restriction often leads to a
slowing of the metabolism to some extent, and some people (though not all)
seem to feel cold as a result. Personally, I find that if I eat enough fat,
especially coconut and other saturated fats, I don't feel this coldness like
I used to. But that is my own personal observation.

To add to that, I think some of the deleterious effects attributed to caloric
restriction are, in fact, due to the macronutrient ratios more than the
actual number of calories consumed. That is to say, from what I have read for
several years on the CR list, those following a restricted Paleo type of diet
fare much, much better in terms of health biomarkers, energy, libido, etc.
than those on the more common extreme low fat/high complex carbohydrate diet.

The other thing I am bothered by is the fact that by MY definition, anyone
losing weight is on some kind of CR diet. (Providing they aren't sick or
dying from some wasting disease) So, if you start out 25 (or 125) pounds
overweight, you are restricting calories just the same as if you are "normal"
weight going on a CR routine. Why should different rules/outcomes apply?

How do we know whether these negative effects, such as loss of libido,
energy, etc. are due to eating fewer calories, or eating the wrong types of
foods? I doubt you could find a single formerly overweight person who felt
BETTER being fat, than eating fewer calories and being thin.

Lastly, it has been scientifically documented (see Walford, etc.) that in
many species in the wild, breeding ceases in times of scarcity. But,
longevity improves! So Mother Nature has provided a mechanism whereby
reproduction slacks off when food is scarce, but allows the species to live
longer, in order that reproduction may begin again when food becomes more
readily available. According to Wiley and Formby in Lights Out, the abundance
of food in the summer led to packing in the carbohydrates and packing on the
pounds, in preparation for the scarcity of food in the winter. Therefore, it
would seem, some degree of intermittent caloric restriction seems to be built
in to our species.

Maddy Mason
Hudson Valley, NY