Low Calorie Intake can prolong your life

An interesting article in Wired magazine points out that longer life can be achieved by lower caloric intake as we age. I first heard of this theory when I read Bill Clinton’s biography wherein he mentioned that one of his college professors had been working on a study like this.

Half the monkeys were fed a low-calorie diet, and the other half a standard diet. All were closely monitored, with researchers regularly measuring their body composition, blood chemistry and endocrine function, as well as heart and brain function. When monkeys died, they were necropsied and the causes of death established.

All the surviving monkeys are now at least 27 years old, the rhesus equivalent of old age. Those fed a calorically restricted diet have dramatically lower levels of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, brain atrophy and lean-muscle loss. Just five of the 38 restricted monkeys have died from age-related causes, compared to 14 of 38 in the control group.

Some scientists are working on a drug to mimic the effects of this calorie restriction effect on the body. According to the report:

Caloric restriction appears to trigger energy-saving metabolic changes, activating metabolic pathways involved in regulating cell growth and repair.

I believe of course that one has to live a “clean” life aside from the low calorie intake practice. Meaning no vices such as smoking, drinking and other excesses.

Well what does this have to do with succession planning? Based from my experience, I’ve seen a lot of successful people put up great businesses, but eventually see the business topple over because the person failed to pass on the knowledge and resources needed to run it to the next generation due to an untimely death.

Successful Succession involves not only passing on the reigns, but being alive long enough to guide your successor along the way for a short span of time till he gets the feel of the saddle. So it helps greatly if one could prolong ones life, even for just a little bit. Helps too that one can enjoy the fruits of ones harvest a little bit longer.

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