calorie restriction to see if it affected other important aspects of life like mood, sleep and sex.
Not surprisingly, the participants who ate 25 percent fewer calories lost weight — about 15 pounds on average. What was surprising? Their mood significantly improved, and they experienced more vigor, less tension and better overall health. They also had an improved sex drive, better relationships and even greater sleep quality.
Keep in mind that safe calorie restriction means reducing intake without depriving yourself of essential nutrients. So every calorie has to be carefully chosen. This is especially important if you’re already at a healthy weight without any fat stores to burn. Make sure your first calories go toward nutrient-rich foods, like vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes and lean protein.
If you’d like to explore calorie restriction, there are many ways to ease into it, such as doing it just two days a week.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more on calorie restriction and options to try.
