According to a new study carried out at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, fasting for one or two days each week may help improve the condition of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Researchers have found that stopping nearly all food intake for short periods of time triggers a protection mechanism within the brain which also works against the effects of neurodegenerative disorders.
Filed under Fasting, Mind, The CRON Diet
CRON – Calorie Restriction with Optimal Nutrition
An Overview
As I see it, the basics are simple: Subject to certain limits, the fewer calories you consume, the better your health and longevity. Benefits are proportional. The primary payoff is avoiding, or vastly delaying, the major killer diseases: heart, stroke, diabetes, cancer. Other benefits include a stronger immune system, increased fitness, and a greater appreciation of food.
Over the longer term, the simplest way to judge calorie intake is weight. However, getting to the minimum, healthy weight should be done slowly – roughly no more than 2% per month for overweight people, 1% for others. In any case, preferably, weight should not fluctuate by more than about 3% (+- 1.5%), measured first thing in the morning.
The lower limit of healthy weight is most easily determined by body fat and BMI (see below).
However, lower calorie intake and low weight are not enough: Good nutrition is absolutely crucial – this is not about starving! Most nutrients should come from foods, not supplements.
There is also good evidence that increased fitness (cardio & muscle) through additional exercise are factors in longevity – even for people doing CRON successfully.
Filed under The CRON Diet, Weight Loss
