OK, I don't like this and I have to tell you about a piece on the news I saw a couple months ago:

I saw this report on a man who was eating a restricted calorie diet to "lengthen" his life so he would have more time with his family. On the surface, that's a noble endeavour. And I don't know how restricted his calories are.

However, the travesty of what he is doing is that his body is deteriorating. At about 35 he already has osteoporosis and a host of other illnesses, fatigue, and has had infections, etc. And he was taking supplements. He's wasting away. And how about the quality of that longer life with his family if he can't walk or function in any normal way?

My take on this: The ills that they are saying restricting calories will delay: insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, cancer... these are all things that we are delaying with low-carbing. Lowering calories, IMHO, is NOT the way to go. They just want to prove that low-fat/low-calories is healthier for humans. They are going to be proven wrong.

Also, as to those rats, they are carnivores/scavengers. And in captivity they are fed a cereal diet. No wonder their lives are shortened. I would like to see what happens when you feed them a mostly meat diet. I'd be willing to bet that they would live a lot longer with fewer illnesses.

I have switched my carnivore pets (dog and cat) to a raw meat diet to lengthen and improve the quality of their lives. I have not restricted their calories, but what do you want to bet my cat (who started his WOE at 15 months) will live to a much older age than most cats (my dog started when he was 12 years old, so for him I am expecting his last years will be healthier). They have both lost weight, which they needed to do and are now maintaining a healthy weight. Their coats are silkier, shinier, and lovelier. They are more energetic and their teeth are better. They also have less "waste" for me to pick up after.

And my last concern is the neverending search for that magic pill that will make us live longer, younger, thinner, happier, etc., etc. Give me a break. Our health is up to us. Not some miracle pill. We can't just wish our problems away.

Sorry for such a rant, but these things get my back up big time.

;-Deb