Let us discuss the short BBC documentary - Eat, Fast and Live Longer

Guys, what do you think of this BBC documentary? The whole idea that protein creates an increased amount of new cells leaving old cells in a state of disrepair and their owners ripe for a cancer diagnosis? I want to believe they've hit upon something here but, fuck, who knows?

Particularly interested in GBX's opinion here but of course all comments are welcome.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvdbtt_eat-fast-live-longer-hd_shortfilms

assuming the video is about this: Intermittent fasting

I have tried the 5:2 diet. I did it for about two months and it was pretty easy. It more or less delivered on what the documentary promised - I lost about a pound per week and felt pretty good. Cholesterol levels improved in my friend who measured it quite carefully. I didn't bother doing that.

A couple of downsides were that it gets in the way of your social life if you are someone like me who eats and drinks with friends and family a lot. Especially if one or two of them are doing it too. That was actually a drag.

The other problem was that it seemed to train me to skip meals. It really is no biggie to not have dinner once you get used to it. For a while there I was just having a couple of martinis and then not eating anything. Eventually I realized it was a very bad habit and I forced myself bac to normality.

My verdict: Ok for a month or two but no way I'd do it long term.

Stumbled upon this while searching for a recent fast food thread.

This recent paper from featured investigator Valter D. Longo was rather interesting:

Levine, M. E., Suarez, J. A., Brandhorst, S., Balasubramanian, P., Cheng, C. W., Madia, F., ... & Longo, V. D. (2014). Low protein intake is associated with a major reduction in IGF-1, cancer, and overall mortality in the 65 and younger but not older population. Cell metabolism, 19(3), 407-417.

Respondents aged 50–65 reporting high protein intake (> 20% of energy) had a 75% increase in overall mortality and a 4-fold increase in cancer death risk during the following 18 years (compared to low protein intake, < 10% energy). These associations were either abolished or attenuated if the proteins were plant derived. Conversely, high protein intake was associated with reduced cancer and overall mortality in respondents over 65, but a 5-fold increase in diabetes mortality across all ages. Mouse studies confirmed the effect of high protein intake and GHR-IGF-1 signaling on the incidence and progression of breast and melanoma tumors, but also the detrimental effects of a low protein diet in the very old. These results suggest that low protein intake during middle age followed by moderate to high protein consumption (> 10% energy) in old adults may optimize healthspan and longevity.