The Effect of an Ad Libitum Diet on General Health The effects of dietary restriction are considered phylogenetically independent, meaning their effects are NOT specific to any single genus or order, but apply to ALL mammals regardless of species. That is not to say differences do not exist in the exact degree of expression, or in the quality of that expression. Such differences are attributed to the evolutionary history of the species, so the EXACT expression of an Ad Libitum diet will be different for a human compared to a ferret. For example, the expression of carbohydrate over-nutrition in humans might be expressed as diabetes, while the impact in ferrets might be seen as insulinoma. Does this difference mean ferrets are not subject to the negative effects of an Ad Libitum diet? Of course not! All it means is that ferrets and humans have different evolutionary histories, especially when it comes to diet, so while carbohydrate over-nutrition might effect the pancreas of both species, the exact expression is subject to the unique history of the individual. The important point of consideration is that carbohydrate over-nutrition impacts the pancreas negatively. Consuming an Ad Libitum diet has been shown to have the following general effects: 1) Shortened life span. 2) Increased number and more rapid growth of tumors and cancers. 3) Increased susceptibility towards gastrointestinal ailments, including megaesophagus, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and a variety of intestinal problems. 4) Increased autoimmunity problems, while at the same time decreased immunoresistance. 5) Faster rate of aging. 6) Diseases (bacterial AND viral) last longer and have increased impact. 7) Increased number of cataracts. 8) Increased rate of obesity. 9) Increased DNA and molecular damage from free-radicals and AGE compounds. 10) Adrenal and pineal hormone production rates increased (or decreased) over normal rates. 11) Increased rates of cardiomyopathy. There are more, but you get the point. Each health problem will be discussed in following posts. The pattern of influence suggests a single causative agent has little chance for impacting so many systems. Many people would argue that it is more likely that viral, genetic, or other environmental agents would be responsible. There is NO doubt that they are correct in that many of these problems are caused by things other than consuming an Ad Libitum diet. However, they fail to recognize are two important things. In most cases, those areas where dietary restriction has the most benefits are general problems that are considered "diseases of old age," including cataracts, adrenal disease, insulinoma, and organ deterioration. This is because dietary restriction tends to retard the ageing process. Second, REGARDLESS of causative agent, an Ad Libitum diet exacerbates existing problems, so dietary restriction prevents, slows, halts, or minimizes problems, but it rarely cures them. In other words, dietary restriction may prevent the start of cancer, but once it starts, DR will only slow its spread, not cure it. DR acts like a prophylactic in that it prevents rather than cures health problems. Dietary restriction is nutrient dependent. Restricting proteins, fats, or trace elements has little or no effect; what specifically works is the reduction of caloric energy, especially the exclusion of starches and sugars (simple and complex carbohydrates). Caloric energy reduction produces the many beneficial effects when turning away from the Ad Libitum diet. That is why caloric restriction is often called "dietary restriction WITHOUT malnutrition." Bob C [Posted in FML issue 3983]