Q: I’ve heard “calorie restriction” diets can extend our life span. Do you recommend them?

A: There’s some interesting research on calorie restriction, the practice of eating a very low-calorie diet and longevity. In animal studies, it’s been shown to reduce the incidence of disease and indeed extend life. But what works in mice does not necessarily work in people, and there is very little known about such a diet’s long-term impact on human health. In small clinical trials, people have shown short-term benefits in blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and heart rate.

But there have also been negative effects, such as reduced bone density, memory loss, anemia, and depression. And, moreover, such an extreme diet is very difficult to maintain and doesn’t allow for much quality of life. Our healthy-aging goals, in my view, should not be to live as long as possible, but to live a good life as long as possible. To that end, I recommend eating sensible portions of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy protein–and enjoying every bite.

Learn more:
10 Key Longevity Foods You Should Start Eating Right Now
The Healthy Aging Diet

Dr. Brent Ridge is the health expert for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. You can call and ask him a question live every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 112 (1.866.675.6675). You can also follow along as he learns to grow his own food and raise goats on his farm in upstate New York by visiting www.beekman1802.com.

Got a health question for Dr. Brent? E-mail him at drbrent@care2.com.