April's CR Diary

Hi April! I have a question in regards to calories--how do you know how "low" is safe? I've been reading up on CRON and I am unclear on the dangers of starvation mode. Does CRON avoid that by making sure all nutrients are obtained, or is starvation mode not a danger since of the research showing slowed cell aging as a result of a calorie restricted diet? Is it safe to assume that as long as you are not hungry, you have enough calories? Most studies like that to cite the not under 1,200 calories if you are a woman, but I can't find the study, and the context of where that study came from. Any input you could give me would be appreciated, or perhaps you could point me as to where to read? Thanks!

Glad to read that you all are fighting the good fight. I'm not up on my obesity reading, but I'm guessing that obese persons are not so widely attacked for their eating habits nor are the rest of us attacked for eating junk all the time. There seems to be hate for CR or is this a good media hype topic. I'm sure I'm saying nothing new, but I did want to encourage all of the bloggy friends. Marti, proud mother of April, the Wonder Blogger

April,
thank you for the link, I found it to be very interesting.
The main thing (and probably the only part) that truly jarred me was when you wrote:
"The enemy is death and disease -- let's work together to fight them".
I agree with one part of this equation - disease being the enemy.
I do not see death as the enemy except as it is visited upon people through tragedy, which can come through ill health (and in other ways such as accidents).
A "natural" death is to be hoped for, I would think. To live long (yes, as long as one reasonably can) and then to die as peacefully as one can, free to the very last, if possible, of major disease and ill health.
Yet the body will die for all of us no matter how well or long we live.
I know some may hold out hope for technology to not only extend life but, in the most daring dream of all, produce immortality. This will never happen, in my opinion. Humans need to die at some point to make room for new generations, but beyond that: I see death as completely life-affirming in that you cannot have one (life) without the other (death).