Browse: Home / Aging / Starve without starving – the forgotten longevity secret

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Better Body Chemistry School
  • Book a health conversation
  • Speaking query
  • The “Big” Spoons
Header image

BBC

Small things can make a big difference to your health

advertisement

Menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • Free Resources
    • 31 days to Better Body Chemistry
    • Willpower Report
    • Weight loss e-course
    • The ups and downs of insulin resistance
    • Candy Floss Boards
    • Weight tracker
  • Library
  • Shop
  • Baobab Adventures
  • Lucky dip
  • Buy me a coffee
  • Video gallery
  • Contact

Starve without starving – the forgotten longevity secret

Posted by Dr Sandy on in Aging | 329 Views | Leave a response

Watch on YouTube

Click to listen to the audio…

The forgotten longevity secret

guru giving advice about longevity

The secret to longevity requires undernutrition without malnutrition. Yuck ! Few people are prepared to do this, but cooking BETTER, this is do-able.

Right now, if you asked as the question, “How do I live to a 110  ?”

The scientific guru, would suggest dietary restriction with adequate nutrition i.e. that is you eat a LOT LESS (undernutrition), but make sure, you don’t eat TOO little, to run short of vital nutrients (without malnutrition).

Scientists know, this approach,  extends lifespan and improves healthspan, in animals, ranging from yeast to mammals.  And they think it will work in humans.

The trouble is………….

It’s pretty hard to sell.

AND virtually IMPOSSIBLE, to do !

The quest to make starving PLEASANT

So scientists are always looking for ways to get the benefits, without the STARVE.  All sorts of things have been tried and  many of them work.

But, for the most part, the solutions are not very  practical.   And potentially hazardous.

So the search continues……

But what if, starving is not actually required ?

Starving a deputation

A team of American researchers, put a cat among the pigeons, nearly 20 years ago, when they found they could get the same benefits :

  • without STARVING
  • pill popping or
  • any other “fancy” technology.

i.e. anyone can do it !

And everyone SHOULD do it, as much as possible……

Undernutrition without malnutrition

The reason undernutrition works………

It LIMITS the formation of oxidants.

NB.  Oxidants are part and parcel of biology, so they cannot be STOPPED, just constrained.

Now most attempts at limiting them, focus on what is going on, inside the body.  But, not all  oxidants are generated by our metabolism.

dietary oxidants popping out of food

Some arrive via dinner.

It was these oxidants our team, decided to take aim at.

Dietary AGEs

The official name for these oxidants are dietary AGEs (advance glycation end products).  Tey are part and parcel of food and they give food it’s flavour.

Eish !  You’d swear Mother Nature was out to get us !

Now before, you throw up you hands in despair,  this is NOT a problem, under ordinary circumstances.  We’ve got a pretty sophisticated defence system, which is quite capable of processing and removing them. Most go to never-never land i.e. we don’t actually absorb them.  The 30 % or so,  that do get abosorbed, are HANDLED.

Either by enzymes in charge of these things or by the kidney, who is quite happy to expel them.

But, defence systems can be overwhelmed.

Pushing the limit

Cooking food, amplifies AGE levels…… making cooked  food DELICIOUS !  In the foodie world…..

They’re called  Malliard reaction products.

And, they’re the reason, “everybody”, from rats to humans,  prefers cooked food over raw food.

Think seared steaks, fried dumplings, roast potato, crispy crusts  and  toasted marshmallows. Mmm.

Okay, okay – let’s get back to the science of longevity…

Gourmet calorie restriction

Our team, decided to “treat” some STARVING mice, to  “roasted” mouse chow and compare, their health and happiness, to  less lucky,  STARVING mice, alongside, mice that were not going HUNGRY.

All  three groups of mice were fed, NIH-31 food.

The gourmet mouse chow was roasted in an oven for 15 minutes at 120°C.

Experimental set up showing level of dietary AGE consumption on different diets

The not going HUNGRY mice, ate, ad libitum i.e. they ate, until they were satisfied.  The two groups of STARVING mice, received 40 % less calories than “normal”.   Those enjoying the “gourmet” treats, at the highest amount of dietary AGEs.

A recipe for thin-ness

The calorie restricted mice………. were significantly thinner.

Graph showing mice weights on different diets

Body weight of mice fed different levels of calories and dietary AGEs.  © 2008 American Society for Investigative Pathology

Ouch !  The STARVING mice, eating “roasted” food, were marginally fatter, than their contemporaries.

But they were healthy – right ?

Not a recipe for longevity

Actually, they did not live long and prosper.

Survival curve on different dietary AGE diets

Survival, curve for mice eating different levels of dietary AGEs. © 2008  American Society for Investigative Pathology

The ordinary calorie restricted mice – did live the longest, as expected.  But, when the calorie restricted mice, ate the exact same amount of food, with a few extra AGEs added, thanks to the cooking technique, they lost their survival advantage.

Eish !

They lived their whole lives HUNGRY and died, a week or two earlier.  Not fair !

AGEs aged the mice

The extra AGEs in their diet, caused higher serum levels of AGEs,  which resulted in higher tissue levels of AGEs.

AGE levels in blood and tissues following different diets

Serum and tissue AGE levels on different diets.  © 2008 American Society for Investigative Pathology.

And ultimately ‘earlier” organ failure.

Blame the AGEs

So it looks like………..

Less food in, means less AGEs in.

And less AGEs in, IS THE SURVIVAL ADVANTAGE !

i.e. it’s not about less food in, per se.

Reduce your AGE INTAKE

Now, the absolute levels of AGEs in food, is impacted by how you cook it.  As a rule, the hotter you go, the more AGEs are created and …..the more tasty the food.  Up to a point !

NOTE : There is a subtle line between a roasted nutty flavour and charcoal.  You know when you’ve crossed it.

We like food that is  cooked  using DRY HEAT.

dry cooking techniques

It’s the go to cooking technique in a BUSY WORLD.

Unfortunately,  this type of cooking… maximizes AGE production.

And is quite different from how traditional cooking approaches, which used moist-heating cooking methods.

traditional cooking techniques

Hitting the limit

Now, there is probably nothing wrong enjoying a great steak, at your favourite restaurant, every now and again.

The problem………..

The modern human diet is AGE rich.

dietary AGE content of some common foods

Which has the potential to push, the AGE defence system to the limit, especially if you’ve already got body chemistry issues.

So count AGEs not calories, for better health.

The easiest way to do this, is to …… change your cooking technique(s).

Oral Glycotoxins Determine the Effects of Calorie Restriction on Oxidant Stress, Age-Related Diseases, and Lifespan. The American Journal of Pathology (2008)  173 (2) : 327-336. Weijing Cai, John C. He, Li Zhu, Xue Chen, Feng Zheng, Gary E. Striker and Helen Vlassara.

Further reading

cooking oil being damaged by high temperature

Fat is not the enemy but fried foods are

Frying with fresh oil, has little to no impact on blood pressure, used oil causes blood pressure to increase, significantly….

pollution in the kitchen

Pollution is not always coming from the outside

City living is synonomous with pollution, as a result, we are sensitized to the quality of the air we breathe OUTSIDE, but the real hot spots are often indoors.

little chef getting down and dirty in the kitchen

Little chefs prefer real food to boxed food

The more the kids peel potatoes and cut carrots, the more likely they are to actually eat the vegetables. Little chefs are cooking up better food choices.

nbsp;

Want to discover more ways to create BETTER BODY CHEMISTRY ?

Posted in Aging | Tagged advanced glycation end products, AGEs, calorie restriction, cooking, cooking techniques, dietary AGEs, dietary restriction, dwarf mice, live forever, Longevity, Malliard reaction products

Connect with us

facebook you tube pinterest 40 Linkedin

Instagram

betterbodychemistry
@betterbodychemistry
Follow
Driving Into Skin Damage
Inside the car, you’re not getting sunburnt, but your skin isn’t safe.
UVA sneaks through glass—and your daily drive might be aging your skin faster than you think.

☀️ No heat. No redness. No warning signs. Just slow collagen breakdown... from the driver’s seat.

🧬 I break down stories like this weekly—science that protects your skin and everything beneath it.
📩 Want more like this? Join the storytelling list. Link in bio.

#SkinHealth #UVAwareness #UVA #SkinDamage #HealthScience #ScienceStories #BodyChemistry #InsidiousSunlight #EverydayHealth #ScienceMadeSimple
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
Driving Into Skin Damage Inside the car, you’re not getting sunburnt, but your skin isn’t safe. UVA sneaks through glass—and your daily drive might be aging your skin faster than you think. ☀️ No heat. No redness. No warning signs. Just slow collagen breakdown... from the driver’s seat. 🧬 I break down stories like this weekly—science that protects your skin and everything beneath it. 📩 Want more like this? Join the storytelling list. Link in bio. #SkinHealth #UVAwareness #UVA #SkinDamage #HealthScience #ScienceStories #BodyChemistry #InsidiousSunlight #EverydayHealth #ScienceMadeSimple
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
It’s one of those classic Catch-22s.

To work properly, CoQ10 needs to get in — and for that, it needs fat.

But if you're on a statin or trying to manage your cholesterol, you're probably avoiding high-fat meals.

So... take the supplement, and waste it?
Or eat the fat, and raise your cholesterol?
OF COURSE this might not be such a BAD THING. Lol. 

😬 That's the bind.

A shiny supplement with a sneaky flaw. Come scout supplements with me — for free. 

If you want to join the next session, head on over to my bio, navigate to the calendar, find the Scout Out Session and sign yourself up. 

#CoQ10
#statins
#musclefatigue
#cholesterol
#mitochondriahealth
#supplementtruth
#betterbodychemistry
#metabolichealth
#cholesterolhelp
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
It’s one of those classic Catch-22s. To work properly, CoQ10 needs to get in — and for that, it needs fat. But if you're on a statin or trying to manage your cholesterol, you're probably avoiding high-fat meals. So... take the supplement, and waste it? Or eat the fat, and raise your cholesterol? OF COURSE this might not be such a BAD THING. Lol. 😬 That's the bind. A shiny supplement with a sneaky flaw. Come scout supplements with me — for free. If you want to join the next session, head on over to my bio, navigate to the calendar, find the Scout Out Session and sign yourself up. #CoQ10 #statins #musclefatigue #cholesterol #mitochondriahealth #supplementtruth #betterbodychemistry #metabolichealth #cholesterolhelp
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
💊 You swallowed the supplement. 

But most of it didn’t make it past your gut. In fact, 95% of your CoQ10 supplement is likely pooped out.

Here’s why Q10’s size, structure, and your meal choices make a BIG difference in whether it actually helps.

🎯 Get digestible science stories—crafted with care and cartoons—to help you outsmart your symptoms and know more than your doctor (most days).. Hop on my list. The link is in my bio.

#CoQ10 #Statins #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #Q10Supplements #ScienceNotSupposition #PharmacologyFacts #GutHealth #SupplementSmarts #InsulinResistance
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
💊 You swallowed the supplement. But most of it didn’t make it past your gut. In fact, 95% of your CoQ10 supplement is likely pooped out. Here’s why Q10’s size, structure, and your meal choices make a BIG difference in whether it actually helps. 🎯 Get digestible science stories—crafted with care and cartoons—to help you outsmart your symptoms and know more than your doctor (most days).. Hop on my list. The link is in my bio. #CoQ10 #Statins #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #Q10Supplements #ScienceNotSupposition #PharmacologyFacts #GutHealth #SupplementSmarts #InsulinResistance
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
🧠 What exactly is Q10… and why is it always mentioned with statins?

It’s safe.
It’s popular.
But it’s still misunderstood.

This short is your quick intro to a molecule that gets a lot of attention — especially if you’re taking a statin.

🎥 Want the full story on statins, muscle loss & Q10?
👉 Watch the video — link in bio

🔬 Follow @betterbodychemistry for bite-sized science that actually makes sense.

#coenzymeQ10 #Q10supplement #ubiquinone 
#statins #musclehealth #cholesterollowering 
#mitochondria #metabolichealth #betterbodychemistry 
#healthscience #scienceexplained #insulinresistance
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
🧠 What exactly is Q10… and why is it always mentioned with statins? It’s safe. It’s popular. But it’s still misunderstood. This short is your quick intro to a molecule that gets a lot of attention — especially if you’re taking a statin. 🎥 Want the full story on statins, muscle loss & Q10? 👉 Watch the video — link in bio 🔬 Follow @betterbodychemistry for bite-sized science that actually makes sense. #coenzymeQ10 #Q10supplement #ubiquinone #statins #musclehealth #cholesterollowering #mitochondria #metabolichealth #betterbodychemistry #healthscience #scienceexplained #insulinresistance
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
A health “nut” (classified as a lean mass hyper-responder) dropped his cholesterol by adding 12 Oreos a day to his keto diet.

Sounds delicious, right? 

But if you’re insulin resistant, this cookie hack could backfire.

🍪 Curious about how it actually worked? I break it down in this short.

And if you want more quirky science stories that help you understand your metabolism — 💌 I send them out via email. Link in bio to join.

#oreoexperiment #insulinresistance #cholesterolfix #ldlcholesterol #lowcarblife #metabolicsyndrome #healthcurious #betterbodychemistry 
#LMHR #leanmusclehyperresponder
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
A health “nut” (classified as a lean mass hyper-responder) dropped his cholesterol by adding 12 Oreos a day to his keto diet. Sounds delicious, right? But if you’re insulin resistant, this cookie hack could backfire. 🍪 Curious about how it actually worked? I break it down in this short. And if you want more quirky science stories that help you understand your metabolism — 💌 I send them out via email. Link in bio to join. #oreoexperiment #insulinresistance #cholesterolfix #ldlcholesterol #lowcarblife #metabolicsyndrome #healthcurious #betterbodychemistry #LMHR #leanmusclehyperresponder
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Ever wonder why your LDL spikes on keto?

It’s not the bacon. 🥓
It’s your liver — working overtime to fuel your body.

On keto, your cells switch from burning sugar to burning fat.
Your liver responds by sending out VLDL particles — packed with fat.
Once the fat is dropped off, what’s left becomes LDL.

⚠️ And that’s what shows up on blood work.
😱 Cue panic.

But if your liver is healthy, those LDLs are just passing through.
If not? They hang around. That’s when trouble starts.

🎥 Watch to understand the science behind rising LDL on keto — and why context matters.

#KetoScience #LMHR #LeanMassHyperResponder #LDLcholesterol #LowCarbLife #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #RootCause
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
Ever wonder why your LDL spikes on keto? It’s not the bacon. 🥓 It’s your liver — working overtime to fuel your body. On keto, your cells switch from burning sugar to burning fat. Your liver responds by sending out VLDL particles — packed with fat. Once the fat is dropped off, what’s left becomes LDL. ⚠️ And that’s what shows up on blood work. 😱 Cue panic. But if your liver is healthy, those LDLs are just passing through. If not? They hang around. That’s when trouble starts. 🎥 Watch to understand the science behind rising LDL on keto — and why context matters. #KetoScience #LMHR #LeanMassHyperResponder #LDLcholesterol #LowCarbLife #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #RootCause
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Is your LDL sky-high… but everything else looks great?

If you’re lean, athletic, and insulin sensitive — you might be what researchers are calling a Lean Mass Hyper-Responder (LMHR).

In this reel, I unpack new research comparing LMHRs to everyday folks. The LDL in LMHRs is often >190 mg/dL — a number that would alarm most doctors — but their CAC scores suggest their hearts are doing just fine.

The takeaway?
LDL might be loud, but it’s not always telling the truth.
The full picture matters.

🎬 This is Part 2 in my LMHR cholesterol series. Follow so you don’t miss Part 3, where we dive into the Lipid Energy Model — a theory that may explain what’s going on in LMHRs (and maybe in you too)

#LDL #Cholesterol #LMHR #InsulinResistance #CACscore #HeartHealth #LipidEnergyModel #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #TyGIndex #HealthEducation #LowCarbScience
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
Is your LDL sky-high… but everything else looks great? If you’re lean, athletic, and insulin sensitive — you might be what researchers are calling a Lean Mass Hyper-Responder (LMHR). In this reel, I unpack new research comparing LMHRs to everyday folks. The LDL in LMHRs is often >190 mg/dL — a number that would alarm most doctors — but their CAC scores suggest their hearts are doing just fine. The takeaway? LDL might be loud, but it’s not always telling the truth. The full picture matters. 🎬 This is Part 2 in my LMHR cholesterol series. Follow so you don’t miss Part 3, where we dive into the Lipid Energy Model — a theory that may explain what’s going on in LMHRs (and maybe in you too) #LDL #Cholesterol #LMHR #InsulinResistance #CACscore #HeartHealth #LipidEnergyModel #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #TyGIndex #HealthEducation #LowCarbScience
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
Your numbers say danger zone — but your body says everything’s fine.
You might be an LMHR.

🎥 This is part 1 of a bigger story. Follow for what happens next.

#LDL #Cholesterol #LowCarbLife #MetabolicHealth #InsulinResistance 
#HeartHealth #KetoProblems #HealthExplained #BodyChemistry #BetterBodyChemistry 
#HealthTips #WellnessJourney #Biohacking #FunctionalMedicine #KnowYourNumbers
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
Your numbers say danger zone — but your body says everything’s fine. You might be an LMHR. 🎥 This is part 1 of a bigger story. Follow for what happens next. #LDL #Cholesterol #LowCarbLife #MetabolicHealth #InsulinResistance #HeartHealth #KetoProblems #HealthExplained #BodyChemistry #BetterBodyChemistry #HealthTips #WellnessJourney #Biohacking #FunctionalMedicine #KnowYourNumbers
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
🎯 One number.

One test you’ve probably never had… even though the data is already in your blood work.

It’s called the TyG Index—and it’s one of the best ways to see if insulin resistance is quietly messing with your metabolism.

🔍 My Metabolic Check makes it easy to calculate, understand, and use this number—and right now, you can get it FREE inside the Next Level Life Bundle.

💡You don’t need to figure everything out today.
But you do need to grab access before the bundle closes.

🕛 Deadline: Tonight at midnight (March 27)
🎁 100+ personal development tools
💻 Yours forever—if you sign up in time.

🔗 Link in bio

#NextLevelLifeBundle #MetabolicCheck #TyGIndex #InsulinResistance #MetabolicHealth #BloodSugarBalance #FreeHealthTools #HealthResources #ScienceBasedHealth #KnowYourNumbers #SugarCrashFix #EnergySupport #FreebieAlert #BetterBodyChemistry #DeadlineAlert
betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
Follow
🎯 One number. One test you’ve probably never had… even though the data is already in your blood work. It’s called the TyG Index—and it’s one of the best ways to see if insulin resistance is quietly messing with your metabolism. 🔍 My Metabolic Check makes it easy to calculate, understand, and use this number—and right now, you can get it FREE inside the Next Level Life Bundle. 💡You don’t need to figure everything out today. But you do need to grab access before the bundle closes. 🕛 Deadline: Tonight at midnight (March 27) 🎁 100+ personal development tools 💻 Yours forever—if you sign up in time. 🔗 Link in bio #NextLevelLifeBundle #MetabolicCheck #TyGIndex #InsulinResistance #MetabolicHealth #BloodSugarBalance #FreeHealthTools #HealthResources #ScienceBasedHealth #KnowYourNumbers #SugarCrashFix #EnergySupport #FreebieAlert #BetterBodyChemistry #DeadlineAlert
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
View on Instagram

FEELING….

sign posts then you need better body chemistry.

Grab our free E-course

“31 days to better body chemistry”

The advice is simple to follow and based on REAL science, not hype

Need more information ? Click here

  • Popular
  • Featured
  • Recent
  • asprosin the sugar plum fairy

    Why sugar levels are high despite NOT eating

    22948 views / Posted
  • oatmeal breakfast being beaten by egg

    Which is a better breakfast, egg or oatmeal ?

    22707 views / Posted
  • poop getting stuck

    The fix for constipation is to go on a low fibre diet

    22297 views / Posted
  • chewing gum relieving postoperative ileus

    A stick of chewing gum gets the gut going after surgery

    16979 views / Posted
  • carbonated water bubbles fill you up

    Fizzing up the water flattens your appetite

    15850 views / Posted
  • sun extracting cholesterol

    Make sure you have your “annual” check-up in the summer time

    / Dr Sandy
  • sending your kid to bootcamp won't stop childhood obesity

    Moving more won’t stop your kid from getting fat

    / Dr Sandy
  • cholesterol at the scene of the accident

    Bone cells are stiffening up your arteries not cholesterol

    / Dr Sandy
  • brain size the problem in ADHD

    Are kids with ADHD just acting according to their brain age

    / Dr Sandy
  • plastering the blood vessel with calcium

    Calcium supplements are building bones and breaking hearts

    / Dr Sandy
  • Plant baring hamburgers

    Does Soy Build Muscle? Exploring the Science Behind Protein Choices

    / Dr Sandy
  • img-48

    The Dark Side of Weight Loss Drugs

    / Dr Sandy
  • Mother Nature stealing from peter to pay paul

    Are You Losing Muscle Without Realizing It? Here’s How to Protect It

    / Dr Sandy
  • img-50

    Your Resting Heart Rate could be a Red Flag for Metabolic Trouble

    / Dr Sandy
  • baby muscle mesmerized by the TV

    Tots watching too much TV end up being muscle flops

    / Dr Sandy

RSS Recent posts

Dr Sandy Dr Sandy Evans, PhD

Located in Johannesburg, South Africa

Disclaimer : The stories and articles are provided as a service. Dr Sandy's opinions are for information only, and are not intended to diagnose or prescribe. For your specific diagnosis and treatment, consult your doctor or health care provider.
 

Book an appointment

Calendar icon
 

Connect with Dr Sandy

facebook 40
you tube 40
pinterest 40
linkedin 40
 

Categories

Featured posts

  • asprosin the sugar plum fairy

    Why sugar levels are high despite NOT eating

    22948 views / Posted
  • oatmeal breakfast being beaten by egg

    Which is a better breakfast, egg or oatmeal ?

    22707 views / Posted
  • poop getting stuck

    The fix for constipation is to go on a low fibre diet

    22297 views / Posted
 

©2011-2025 Spoonful of Science

Menu

  • Meet Dr Sandy
  • Disclosure/disclaimer
  • Privacy policy
  • Comment policy
  • Contact