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Comment by AngryParsley | Hacker News Reader

He doesn’t count calories or believe in extreme caloric restriction as a way to extend life.

Not only has caloric restriction been shown to work in mammals (including primates), but it has known mechanisms of action. That's some hefty evidence to ignore.

But he does believe that excess weight is a sure way to abbreviate it, and reprimands friends, acquaintances and even strangers who are heavy.

The latest studies (http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/293/15/1861.abstract) show underweight and obese people have higher mortality in old age. The mildly overweight need not worry.

Sure, the rinds and peels — which he explains by saying that the parts of fruits most directly sun-kissed are bound to harbor the most energy — may be a little strange.

This makes it clear he has no idea what he's talking about.

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This is interesting, however. Let's think about it for a minute.

    - Caloric restriction has been shown to work. Caloric
    restriction would most likely result in individuals
    being at least slightly underweight.
    - Underweight have higher mortality in the old age.
    Mildly overweight need not worry.

So how does that work together?

Practically nobody does CR. The underweight people in the study likely had diseases or nutrient absorption problems.

Practically nobody does CR

Fair enough. I personally wouldn't even try CR - I don't have enough willpower to be slightly hungry for the rest of my life. I'm trying to incorporate some Intermittent Fasting in my life though, since it has some similar benefits.

Caloric restriction requires you to eat food that is denser in nutrients. Many who don't eat much do so because they're poor and can't afford enough food, let alone food that is denser in nutrients. That is why, on average, those with lower body weights have lower mortality. Those who assiduously follow a CR diet rich in nutrients may live longer, but they must be a tiny slice of the pie.

>> He doesn’t count calories or believe in extreme caloric restriction as a way to extend life.

Not only has caloric restriction been shown to work in mammals (including primates), but it has known mechanisms of action. That's some hefty evidence to ignore.

Well, at 87, it's a bit late to start calorie restriction, anyways.

On the contrary. The outer shell/skin of any live aerobic organism is most exposed to oxidative stress (21% O compared to cells inside the body -3%) hence the anti-oxidant defenses are most expressed exactly there. They are also most exposed to solar radiation ("sun-kissed") which makes perfect sense when you review the most active antioxidants -dark-green leafy veggies and dark-colored berries (anthocyanin). Calorie Restriction works by inducing NO (AMPK) and lowering core body temperature thus reducing the inflammatory impact of exogenous agents- nutrients,viruses,environmental stressors etc and also by reducing the endogenous thermogenic hormones (insulin, leptin, estrogen,norepinephrine etc.

> This makes it clear he has no idea what he's talking about.

I propose that we check on him on his 125th birthday to find out. If he's dead, then you're right. If he's alive, then you're wrong.

That isn't how science works.

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