Is a Calorie Restriction Diet Healthy?

Many diet plans are centered around one idea -- to lose weight, you must take in less calories, burn more calories, or both. This is the premise of a calorie-restricted diet. Studies have shown that calorie restriction can lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure, increase longevity, and decrease body fat. In our image-obsessed culture, however, the last of those seems to carry the most weight (forgive the pun).

The general wisdom seems to run that the less you eat and the more you exercise, the better, but this is not actually the case. In fact, if you think that way, I suggest you get screened for an eating disorder. Extreme calorie restriction for the purpose of weight loss is called anorexia, and 1 out of 4 cases of this serious mental illness ends in death.

There is merit in the idea (recently given a lot of attention by Oprah's Dr. Oz) that feeding your body more efficiently allows it to work more efficiently, resulting in better health and longer life. However, looking at this as a calorie issue alone is a mistake. All calories are not created equal. If you eat only 1200 calories a day, but they are mostly saturated fat and refined sugars, you may lose weight (because your body is starving), but you will not reap the healthy benefits of a balanced diet. Also, counting calories can be stressful and time consuming. Food should add to your quality of life, not detract from it.

Concentrating on eating a variety of lean proteins, fiber in the form of whole grains and fresh fruits and veggies, and unsaturated fats, and practicing portion control (everything in moderation) is a much more practical, mentally healthy, and sustainable lifestyle choice.