While man’s eternal search for “the fountain of youth” continues, a study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that we (at least the gourmands among us) may not like what we find. Scientists have known for decades that reducing the amount of food consumed can extend the lifespan of multiple organisms, ranging from yeast to rats. Exactly how reducing the number of calories consumed prolongs life is unknown, but theories abound. Some researchers believe that ingesting fewer calories slows down the rate at which our bodies metabolize, or break down, food and turn it into energy, thereby slowing the aging process. Others believe that decreased calorie consumption sets loose fewer free radicals, the harmful particles generated as a side effect of metabolism. The most recent theory, proposed by researchers at the National Institute on Aging (NIA), is that long term calorie cutting, or caloric restriction (CR), prolongs life in part by delaying the aging of the immune system… Continue reading Living Longer with a Healthier Immune System