Abstemious

The best way to extend your life expectancy may not be through any diet, pill, or exercise regime, but simply by living an abstemious lifestyle. The nonprofit Calorie Restriction Society states: “Since the 1930s extensive scientific research has shown that calorie restricted (CR) diets improve health and extend lifespans of nearly every species tested, including worms, spiders, rodents, dogs, cows and monkeys”. Studies on rats and mice fed highly calorie-restricted diets showed that they lived nearly twice as long as the control groups. A study on rhesus monkeys is currently underway.

Abstemious (pronounced “ab-STEE-mee-əs”)

1. *Eating and drinking in moderation.
2. Characterized by abstinence or moderation: The hermit led an abstemious way of life.

Etymology

From Latin abs, “away, from”, plus temetum, “strong drink”.

Synonyms

temperate, austere, sparing

Sources

Wikipedia: Calorie Restriction, Calorie Restriction Society