But the benefits of calorie restriction require that mice live on a restricted diet for most of their lives.

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Puigserver and his colleagues found that SIRT1, the mammal version of the SIR2 gene, was turned on in the livers of mice when they were put on a calorie-restricted diet.

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After six months, the non-diet group had lost an average of 1% of their weight, the calorie restriction group, 10.4%, those who were on a calorie restricted diet plus exercise, 10% and the very low-calorie diet, 13.9%.

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To keep inflammation to a minimum, Dr. O'Keefe recommends a restricted-calorie diet (similar to the Mediterranean diet), consisting of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, vinegar, tea, and fish oil, as well as low to moderate alcohol intake.

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When Guarente's team deleted the sir2 gene from the yeast and then restricted calories, the diet no longer lengthened life span.

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He said adverts must be restricted, and healthy diet and exercise promoted.

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