Study: Restricting Calories May Be Key To Longer Life

While everyone looks to lose weight after the holidays, most doctors recommend cutting junk food every day to promote good health.

Now a study shows that carefully restricting calories could also lead to a longer life and may even lead to a longer life and may even make you smarter.

In tests on laboratory animals at the University of Florida, scientists have found that a calorie-restricted diet can ward off disease and prevent the death of many brain cells.

Researchers say that by cutting calories in animals in half they can reduce their risk of disease by 90 percent.

They're far from making such a bold prediction for diseases in humans, but experts know that cutting fat can produce a health benefit.

"The key is we are overeating, there's no doubt about it, we all are overeating. And the more fuel you take in there seems to be more damage and we studied not only the internal damage in the cells, but also cell loss or apoptosis," said Dr. Christian Leeuwenburgh of the University of Florida.

Results show that the memory and apparent intelligence of the lab animals increased on a diet of fewer calories.

Experts don't know how much people would need to restrict calories to see the benefits, but as animal trials continue scientists say people should proceed carefully and with guidance.

"One needs to probably consult a nutritionist to make sure they get adequate amounts of different anti-oxidants and nutrients in. But I think the overwhelming evidence is that if you do take a low intake of calories, definitely your health span would be increased dramatically," Leeuwenburgh said.