What Mice & Worms Know About Eating That Could Help You Longer
Written by Kathryn Savage
What do mice, round worms and people have in common?
The FoxA 1, 2, 3, genome sequence, which could be responsible for appetite response and consequently, longevity. In a recent study, scientists identified that this gene significantly promoted the longevity of roundworms by prompting them to eat less. Scientists are now working hard to see if this finding can lead to a drug that promotes human longevity by restricting caloric consumption. What can we learn from these worms and mice, and how were they studied?
Roundworms
Roundworms live about 3 weeks which makes them great research subjects. Scientists, who understand that worms, mice and people share the “insulin signaling control of metabolism” and, “the survival mechanism to live out famine.” Got to work uncovering the role the FoxA genome sequence has on the age old question - to go for seconds, or not to go for seconds? In other words, they wanted to find out if eating less really can make you live longer.
Mice
Mice can extend their life by an average third if they eat a healthy, low-calorie diet. Scientists are working hard to understand the genetic pathway that FoxA genes travel through, with the hope being to create a insulin-signaling-stop-eating-now type drug without nasty side effects (like infertility etc.).
Could this be the magic bullet?
One day there might be a pill you can pop that lets your body know when to stop eating based on insulin levels that support a low calorie diet and promote longevity. But while researchers at the Salk Institute of Biological Studies led by Siler Panowski and Andrew Dillin continue to conduct their studies, what can you do to promote a low calorie healthy meal plan today, without the pills?
Eat on a budget
Eat as though you are running out of food. It may sound morbid, but these genes are part of the reason people, mice and worms survive famine. So to remind your body to stop eating when you are 80% full by thinking of the benefit of leftovers, one more day before you have to go to the grocery store and all the other great reasons why stopping before you are stuffed is good for your waistline and your wallet.
Eat off smaller plates
Eating off smaller plates and drinking out of tall skinny glasses is a great tool for eating less without thinking about it. The old out of sight out of mind trick.
Drink
Every meal should be accompanied by a beverage whether that be wine, water or whiskey. Pause, set down the fork, sip, swallow, pick up the fork. See, just by having a handy glass of water near by you are slowing down the eating process allowing your body more time to digest and feel full.
For more on the roundworm study and the researchers findings follow this link.
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written by Danielle Sims, May 09, 2008
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