1. Cutting out THESE many calories every day can improve your health: Study
It’s no more a surprise that cutting back on calories can help you lose weight. In fact, creating a calorie deficit is the first step in the journey of weight loss. But what if we tell you that not just weight loss, cutting out a specific number of calories from your everyday diet can help lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, improve cholesterol level and help control the blood sugar levels as well.
Yes, cutting back on calories has many health benefits. A new study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology found how chronically restricting calorie intake can impact your body.
2. The study
Researchers evaluated 218 healthy adults aged between 21 to 50 and asked them to cut 25 per cent calories from their usual diet for two years. These adults were fairly fit and slightly overweight when they started.
If someone consumed 2200 calories daily, cutting 25 per cent calories would mean having 550 calories less every day. By the end of the study, most participants managed to cut only 12 per cent calories on an average, which is approximately 300 calories.
3. Result
The participants of the study had lower blood pressure, reduced inflammation as well as improved cholesterol and blood sugar levels. They also lost around 10 per cent of their body weight.
The study suggests that restricting calories can have unique biological effects on disease pathways in the body.
4. Other findings
The study also showed that it was difficult for people to reduce the amount of food they eat normally. The participants of the study had to go through intensive training on how to cook low-calorie meal and keep a regular check on what they eat. Yet they were only able to meet half the goal of cutting calories.
5. Verdict
Cutting calories has been an old way to extend the lives of rodents and other lab animals. This study proves that restricting calories can have a beneficial impact on various health conditions including diabetes and heart disease, which are responsible for millions of death every year.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Please consult your treating physician for more details.