Low carb diet: The key to a longer life

June 30, 6:49 AMLA Low Carb ExaminerPatricia Crawford

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The door to a longer life may have been opened by the lowly roundworm, but Cynthia Kenyon, at the University of California, San Francisco, knows that controlling insulin is the key. Her research has shown that insulin clearly plays a role in how fast an animal ages. Many groups that promote longevity call insulin the “death hormone.” Their recommendation? Caloric restriction.

But true caloric restriction isn't necessary for one following a low-carb lifestyle, as does Ms. Kenyon, herself. By eating fewer carbohydrates, we can cause a small amount of “there’s-a-shortage-of-food” response inside our body. Kenyon says, "When you don’t have enough insulin, your body senses danger and mounts a response. Protective mechanisms are mobilized. Antioxidants are produced. Chaperone proteins that help other proteins fold correctly become resistant to infections. Your immune response is strengthened.” The bottom line? At the minimum, a better quality of life. At the maximum, perhaps an extended lifespan. Either way, that's good news for the low-carb dieter.

For more info: Check out the second part of Ms. Kenyon's article, "Is Aging a Disease?"