Scientific journal Nature recently published findings on the effect of diet on mice. Interestingly, it was concluded that genetics are more important than lifestyle in terms of lifespan. Ruth Schuster, a journalist for Haaretz news, summarizes the publication, remarking the interesting, but also quite amusing, discoveries from the researchers.
The research project gave the mice 5 different diets; one group was normal, two groups had to fast for one or two days, and another two had restricted diets. But while the diets were a deciding factor for the mice, overall it was found that genetics played a bigger part in extending the animal's life. As explained in the article, genetics explained three times more of the differences in lifespan than did the diets. Although there was no specific gene mutation that correlated to extended lifespan in the mouse, it was still concluded from the research that genetics still had an upperhand in influence over environment. Additoinally mice who did live longer due to their altered diet were often more prone to sickness.
What was rather funny about the whole research was that the given diets for mice were less of a deciding factor of the mices' lifespan, but moreso the mouse itself. As said in the article, "the strongest predictor for lifespan extension was mice that didn't freak when being handled" (Schuster). Meaning, personality and stress is a better predictor of whether or not you face an early death.
So the ultimate conclusion is, why not just eat what you want to eat? Of course, this is not research supporting overindulgence or a poor diet, but indeed research suggesting that torturing yourself with a diet won't help you in the long run. Even if you are to live 10, even 20 years longer than everybody else, would it be enjoyable constantly restricting yourself and fearing sickness? Surely the mice would think the same.
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Ironically, the researchers' goal was to examine the relationship between nutrition and longevity, but they discovered that maintaining composure and avoiding stress was more important. Relax and try not to worry too much; it's almost as if science has finally caught up with what our ancestors have always told us. Sometimes the most straightforward advice turns out to be correct all along! It's funny!
ReplyDeleteThis blog post was so cute. I had no idea that the genes of a mouse over diet would determine the lifespan. I suppose because the more stressed and anxious a mouse is, the more likely its little heart is worked to completion. But, for mice that are calmer and less stressed, their heart and nerves are not stressed as much, leading to a calmer and longer life.
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