Our first potluck of this calendar year was tasty and interesting. We had about 28 people sharing their plant based dishes. We plan on adding the recipes here and on the Recipes page on our website. We also had a speaker Dr. John Ahlen, M.D. that gave a talk for about 20 minutes.

Eating Too Much Protein Can Shorten Your Life!
By: Dr. John Ahlen, M.D.

Got your attention? What does this mean?

IGF-1 (Insulin-like growth factor-1) and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) are essential components of growth and development in mammals. They promote and regulate cell growth, muscle mass, bone health, metabolism and physiology. Rapid growth is good to a point but should slow down as we reach adulthood.
If the levels of IGH-1 and mTOR remain high into adulthood, DNA errors and dysfunctional cells develop resulting in Parkinson’s disease, cancers, inflammation and immune suppression. High levels are caused by diet. The number of calories and amount of protein ingested affects the amount of IGF-1 and mTOR produced by your body.

It’s best to follow the World Health Organization recommendations for protein intake: 0.8g protein/kg bodyweight (or up to 1.0g if 65+). Excess protein risks excess production of IGF-1/mTOR which accelerates aging. Foods known to promote excess IGF-1/mTor production are fish, poultry, eggs, red meat, and dairy (in decreasing order of methionine production). Foods lowest in methionine production are beans, nuts, grains, vegetables and fruits (high to low).

Doctors are learning the vital roles nutrition plays in human health. Recent studies show the amino acid, methionine, affects the lifespan of mammals by up to 40%. With proper nutrition, the average human life span could be 110 years.

It’s important to be aware of new advances in nutritional science and incorporate them into our diets and lifestyle. Then maybe we can live longer, healthier lives!