Home

Something to Chew On: How Does Animal Protein Affect Aging?

What does the science of longevity suggest about our food choices?

In the following short video, Michael Hollie, MD, discusses the effect of calorie restriction— specifically restricting calories from animal protein—on the mechanisms of aging. (To learn more about longevity, read Dr. Hollie’s article from 2022.)

This evidence raises many questions about the standard American, or Western-type, diet’s preoccupation with animal protein. How do you think we can begin to flip the narrative on animal protein?

  • What role do non-nutritional values—ideas about class, gender, rapid growth, etc.—play in shaping our beliefs on protein?
  • Given the macronutrient breakdown observed in blue zones like Loma Linda and Okinawa, how might you explain the massive market for low-carbohydrate diets and dieting products?
  • Many non-dietary factors contribute to recent life expectancy trends, including the opioid epidemic, suicides, and alcoholic liver disease. How—if at all—might these connect to nutrition? More generally, might nutrition play a role in mental health?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

email address submitted successfully

You will receive a confirmation email within a few minutes.

Please click the link within the email to complete the subscription process.

A Pledge by Ordinary People for Planetary Health on World Health Day

Sign your pledge below

I, ________________solemnly pledge to work towards preserving my health and the health of my family and community by protecting and preserving the planet’s natural ecosystems on which human health depends.

The health of the planet, people, and their communities will be my first consideration.

I will maintain the utmost respect for human life, as well as reverence for the diversity of life on Earth, and for the natural systems which support all life.

I will attend to my own health and well-being, by adopting and incorporating plant-based nutrition principles, in order to better serve my family, my community, and the planet to the best of my abilities.

I will fight for equity and justice by actively addressing the environmental, food, and social crises through my actions at home, in my community, and in my profession, so as to protect the planet and all of its life forms for current and future generations.

I will strive to be a role model for my children, family, and community by striving to embody planetary and plant-based health principles in my own life, acknowledging that this requires maintaining the vitality of our common home.

I make these promises solemnly, freely, and upon my honor and self-respect. By taking this pledge, I am committing to a vision of personal, community, and planetary health that will enable the diversity of life on our planet to thrive now and in the future.

Adapted from the Pledge in the Lancet (2020), by UGW 2023

Get involved

Be the first to know about sales and special discounts.

Is the sign-up for a group activity? If so, include group size and age ranges.