Mr. Michio Kaku

So lately I've been reading a book that came out not too long ago by Michio Kaku: "Physics of the Future." Really interesting read for anyone remotely interested in physics, si-fi or anything in between. It has a lot of discussion about technology that is currently being developed and the future potential of its application. But to get to the point, in one of the section that talks about the science of genetics (specifically the science of aging), Mr. Kaku points out a realization that has been made by the scientists in the field. I think it would be better to quote than try to explain, so here goes:

"Caloric Restriction:
This theory may also explain the strange fact that caloric restriction (that is, lowering the calories we eat by 30 percent or more) increases the life span by 30 percent. Every organism studied so far - from yeast cells, spiders and insects to rabbits, dogs and now monkeys - exhibits this strange phenomenon. Animals given this restricted diet have fewer tumors, less heart disease, a lower incidence of diabetes, and fewer diseases related to aging. In fact, caloric restriction is the ONLY known mechanism guaranteed to increase the life span that has been tested repeatedly, over almost the entire animal kingdom, and it works everytime. Until recently, the only major species that still elluded reaserchers of caloric restriction were primates, of which humans are a member, because they live so long.

Scientists were especially anxious to see the results of caloric restriction on rhesus monkeys. Finally, in 2009 the long-awaited results came in. The University of Wisconsin study showed that, after 20 years of caloric restriction, monkeys on the restricted diet suffered less diseas accros the board:less diabetes, cancer, heart disease. In general, these monkeys were in better health than their cousins who were fed a normal diet."

Pretty interesting if you consider that he is not talking about caloric restriction from a diet consistant with overeating. He seems to imply that the caloric restriction needs to come from an already healthy diet as nature intended.