What do nurses think of calorie restricted diets?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have heard that they increase lifespan. Even if this is true, at what cost? Your thoughts appreciated.

I was on one for a few months my intake was about 1500 calories and I lost 25 lbs. I'm skinner then I was in high school! I think that eating the right things can keep you feeling full all day, I wasn't cranky or hungry on my "diet". Obesity is a huge problem if calorie restricted diets can help people lose weight with a minimum of side effects I'm all for it.

Which is worse diabetes, heart disease, increased risk of cancer, high bp, and possible death? Or maybe being a little hungry and cranky. JMHO

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I was on one for a few months my intake was about 1500 calories and I lost 25 lbs. I'm skinner then I was in high school! I think that eating the right things can keep you feeling full all day, I wasn't cranky or hungry on my "diet". Obesity is a huge problem if calorie restricted diets can help people lose weight with a minimum of side effects I'm all for it.

Which is worse diabetes, heart disease, increased risk of cancer, high bp, and possible death? Or maybe being a little hungry and cranky. JMHO

I don't think they're talking about 1500 calories a day. I think it's more like 1000 or less. 1500 calories is, or can be a decent amount of food.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I don't believe calories is as impt as other factors. You can get plenty of calories in junk food but not be healthy.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
1500 calories is, or can be a decent amount of food.
Then again, I can consume 1,500 calories in one meal alone.
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Then again, I can consume 1,500 calories in one meal alone.

Yeah . . especially when you eat 3 helpings:sofahider of mashed taters and gravy at Thanksgiving . . .

steph

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.
Yeah . . especially when you eat 3 helpings:sofahider of mashed taters and gravy at Thanksgiving . . .

steph

How did you know I did that !?!?!?!?!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I could not stand to be hungry all day either! I do the (relatively) normal exercise/healthy diet routine right now. Maybe one day they'll be saying that extra mass is bad!

I get seriously aggitated when hungry and can't stand it. I've tried to fast and just can't do it.

There are several theories as to why the calorie restriction increases life span in mice (it hasn't been proven in humans, but there's many people doing it). One thing is if they eat nutrient dense food, but less calories that's a lot of antioxidants, plus they aren't introducing oxidants by eating processed unhealthy food, so that's doubly good.

As a nurse, it's not something I would advise my patients or anyone at this point. A healthy lean weight is important and almost all of us aren't there, but to permanently restrict calories, I just don't see it.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
The diet you're talking about was the one "discovered" when the folks in the Bio-dome (no, not Pauly Shore) miscalculated how much food they'd be able to grow and lived on semi-starvation rations until the end of the experiment.

Your teleomeres - the bits on the ends of the cells that regulate mitosis - slow down, as does your cell regenderation, ergo your time increases.

And even if it doesn't you'll be ready to die. The people I've seen on that diet are weak, cranky, and look awful.

Please pass the chocolate.

;)

I agree, I've seen them on tv on a news type show and they look emaciated and sickly.

Save me some of that chocolate. :lol2:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I just challenged my memory and I remember they are The Calorie Restriction Society. Here's their link. Remember it's one sided. http://www.calorierestriction.org/

This is not a group that just wants to loose weight. They want to restrict calories for longevity and are already skinny.

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I don't know how they have the willpower and longevity to maintain a restricted calorie diet.

I can do it for awhile . .. but not for keeps.

steph

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Wow, I'm looking at the website . . the listed risks are pretty risky.

I was going to paste them here but the list is too long.

steph

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What's the point in longevity if you can't eat (or drink)?

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