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Calorie restriction diets may not sound fun but these very reduced calorie diets\u00a0are all the rage right now, particularly as Americans look to the starting line of the\u00a0New Year to make 2026\u00a0the\u00a0year to finally\u00a0the lose weight.<\/p>\n
Calorie restriction diets, or\u00a0CR for short, not just promise weight loss, but also recent research has suggested that reducing calories over the long-term may slow the\u00a0process of aging, reduce risk of certain diseases and cancers\u00a0and extend lifespan. In fact, the science is so potentially powerful and hopeful that one of largest\u00a0studies investigating this eating plan, the\u00a0CALERIE study,\u00a0just\u00a0wrapped up a two-year\u00a0investigation of\u00a0the prolonged effects of calorie restriction on adult Americans.<\/p>\n
While most of us\u00a0find eating less for the rest of our lives as about as appealing as The Grapefruit Diet<\/a>, there are thousands of individuals who are strong advocates of this sparse diet, and there is even the Calorie Restriction Society, a non-profit organization\u00a0dedicated to understanding and promoting the CR diet<\/a>.<\/p>\n Known as a respected source on calorie restriction, here are\u00a0five of the\u00a0Calorie Restriction Society’s main precepts of the CR diet:<\/p>\n 1. Replace calorie-dense food with calorie-sparse and nutrient-rich foods<\/strong>: Think tons of water-based vegetables and fresh fruits. Lettuces, carrots, peppers, leafy greens, cucumbers, squashes, berries, watermelons, apples, oranges and scores of other fruits and veggies are the cornerstone of the CR diet. The idea is to reduce your calories by 25 percent of your normal diet. So if you eat a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, you’re going to knock down your intake to about\u00a01,500 calories.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0Abstain from\u00a0simple sugars and flours<\/strong>: These calorie-dense and nutrient-void ingredients are ubiquitous in the American Diet, but must be avoided when following the CR diet because of their energy punch and their ability to wreak havoc on insulin levels.<\/p>\n 3. Carefully select proteins and fats<\/strong>: Proteins and fats are essential nutrients for receiving the benefits of the CR diet, but they must be chosen carefully, particularly in the case of fats, which are incredibly nutrient-dense. Lean chicken, lean fish, low-fat dairy, soy and eggs are CR-approved protein sources and nuts, avocados and olive oil are the go-to fats. But once again, portion control in regards to both protein and fats is essential.<\/p>\n 4. Plan your meals around your lifestyle:<\/strong> One of the hallmark features\u00a0for anyone who follows the CR diet is the flexibility in which they restrict their calories. For some, they may eat the standard three meals a day, which are comprised of tons of leafy, low-calorie vegetables as a way to keep calories down yet also satiating the appetite. For others, they may eat only one meal a day and fast for the rest of the day while others graze on small, nutrient-rich and low-calorie mini-meals.<\/p>\n 5. Health, not weight loss, is the overarching goal<\/strong>: Calorie Restriction advocates<\/a> reduce their calories not because they still\u00a0want to look great in their high school\u00a0jeans. While this is a\u00a0fabulous\u00a0consequence\u00a0of the diet, improving health, staving off disease and living longer are the greater motives that inspire those to follow and stick with the CR diet.<\/p>\n Even though much of the research on Calorie Restriction diets has been limited to animal studies, health and medical experts like Dr. Oz have discussed their enthusiasm over the idea\u00a0that reducing calories may be the veritable Fountain of Youth. In our culture of bariatric surgery, weight-related illnesses, childhood obesity, diabetes and super-sized everything, the less is more mantra of the restricted calorie diets<\/a> may just be a behavior that many of us should consider.<\/p>\n If you are the\u00a0slightest bit intrigued about restricted calorie diets, check out DietsInReview.com’s review of\u00a0 The Calorie Restriction Diet<\/a> and the Longevity Diet<\/a>, two of the most well-known, popular\u00a0and well-respected restricted calorie diets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Calorie restriction diets may not sound fun but these very reduced calorie diets\u00a0are all the rage right now, particularly as Americans look to the starting line of the\u00a0New Year to make 2026\u00a0the\u00a0year to finally\u00a0the lose weight. Calorie restriction diets, or\u00a0CR … Continue reading