If you did, you can expect to live longer,
And it's almost as beneficial as exercise!
A study using data from the Women's Health Initiative found that women aged 50 and up were 20% less likely to die in any given year if they attended religious services weekly (15% reduction if they attended less than weekly) compared to those that never attend religious services. This analysis was controlled for age, ethnicity, income level and (most importantly) current health status. The data was collected through surveys and an annual review of medical records. What was interesting was that the religion effect applied to overall risk of death, but not to risk of death from heart conditions. There is no explanation for why that might be. The fact that the study controlled for overall health status makes it more possible that attending religious services has a positive impact on health (not just that healthier people go to services more often).
Add 2 to 3 Years with Religion
Another study also found benefit to attending religion services, this time expressed in added years of life. Researchers have found that weekly attendance at religious services is associated with 2 to 3 additional years of life. These findings were controlled for other factors such as amount of physical exercise and taking cholesterol medications.
How Good Are 2 to 3 Additional Years?
Pretty good. Exercise will increase life expectancy by 3 to 5 years.
The Macs
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Will Calorie Restriction Work at My Age?
Research presented at the British Society for Research on Aging conference, held July 15-16 in Newcastle, England reveals that calorie restriction, even started later in life, reduces age related cellular deterioration: a major cause of aging.
Researchers at Newcastle University fed adult mice a calorie restricted diet and found a decrease of age related cellular deterioration. They also found that the animals' telomeres, which are protective caps on the ends of the chromosomes that prevent DNA mutation were better maintained, also oxidative stress caused by free radicals was reduced.
"Many people will have heard of the theory that eating a very low calorie diet can help to extend life span and there is a lot of evidence that this is true," lead researcher Chunfang Wang commented. "It's particularly exciting that our experiments found this effect when food restriction was applied in later life," added Professor Thomas von Zglinicki, who contributed to the work.
Researchers at Newcastle University fed adult mice a calorie restricted diet and found a decrease of age related cellular deterioration. They also found that the animals' telomeres, which are protective caps on the ends of the chromosomes that prevent DNA mutation were better maintained, also oxidative stress caused by free radicals was reduced.
"Many people will have heard of the theory that eating a very low calorie diet can help to extend life span and there is a lot of evidence that this is true," lead researcher Chunfang Wang commented. "It's particularly exciting that our experiments found this effect when food restriction was applied in later life," added Professor Thomas von Zglinicki, who contributed to the work.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Why Restrict Calories?
Calorie Restriction
Since the 1930s extensive scientific research has shown that calorie restricted diets improve health and increases life spans. Nearly every species tested, including worms, spiders, rodents, dogs, cows and monkeys have documented increased life spans and improved health with calorie restricted diets. The Mac Diet embraces not only a calorie restricted diet but a calorie restricted diet utilizing a whole food, plant based, lean protein, low glycemic, anti-inflammatory, high fiber diet; the perfect diet.
Calorie restriction is more efficient than a regular weight loss program because weight loss diets are aimed at shedding excess pounds, either for aesthetic or health reasons. By contrast, the goal of The Mac Anti-aging Diet is extending our lifespan and improving health. Weight loss is a side effect. In fact, calorie restriction's anti-aging effects manifest themselves even in organisms with a 'healthy' weight.
One thing you'll find out quite early on in your journey into The Mac Diet's caloric restriction is that you'll have to stop eating the great American diet of sugar, salt, fat and processed foods. If you were eating an unhealthy diet before caloric restriction, you'll probably notice the benefits of healthy eating within a few weeks. Your palate will become more sensitive to subtle tastes, you'll sleep better, feel more alert, and mood swings will be diminished. You will feel a dramatic positive influence from the The Mac's Diet calorie restricted diet that will keep you motivated to stay on track, and begin to lead a healthy lifestyle.
You do not need to be on The Mac Diet to start caloric restriction. Start reducing calories today and live longer and better immediately. We will address how calorie restriction increases lifespan on the next blog.
Dr. Mac
Since the 1930s extensive scientific research has shown that calorie restricted diets improve health and increases life spans. Nearly every species tested, including worms, spiders, rodents, dogs, cows and monkeys have documented increased life spans and improved health with calorie restricted diets. The Mac Diet embraces not only a calorie restricted diet but a calorie restricted diet utilizing a whole food, plant based, lean protein, low glycemic, anti-inflammatory, high fiber diet; the perfect diet.
Calorie restriction is more efficient than a regular weight loss program because weight loss diets are aimed at shedding excess pounds, either for aesthetic or health reasons. By contrast, the goal of The Mac Anti-aging Diet is extending our lifespan and improving health. Weight loss is a side effect. In fact, calorie restriction's anti-aging effects manifest themselves even in organisms with a 'healthy' weight.
One thing you'll find out quite early on in your journey into The Mac Diet's caloric restriction is that you'll have to stop eating the great American diet of sugar, salt, fat and processed foods. If you were eating an unhealthy diet before caloric restriction, you'll probably notice the benefits of healthy eating within a few weeks. Your palate will become more sensitive to subtle tastes, you'll sleep better, feel more alert, and mood swings will be diminished. You will feel a dramatic positive influence from the The Mac's Diet calorie restricted diet that will keep you motivated to stay on track, and begin to lead a healthy lifestyle.
You do not need to be on The Mac Diet to start caloric restriction. Start reducing calories today and live longer and better immediately. We will address how calorie restriction increases lifespan on the next blog.
Dr. Mac
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