There are two sides to every coin. Calorie restriction, or the reduction of calories in a person’s diet in order to lengthen life, has yielded various benefits to its practitioners, including positive changes in body fat percentage, weight, cholesterol level, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. But while calorie restriction diet is backed up by science and research, it still has its own risks. Throughout history, many have fallen victim to various tragedies while searching for the fountain of youth. While there are no definitive tragedies in calorie restriction diet, safety is always first, and so here are a few of the potential risks that the careless and unsupervised practice of calorie restriction diet can bring.

A long-term endeavor such as calorie restriction has holistic impacts on a person both beneficial and risky, on the one hand, an increase in your longevity and many indications of health improvement. There are also physical risks as well as social ones for those who do not safely follow the guidelines of calorie restriction diet.

While calorie restriction is suited for most people, there are certain extreme conditions in which calorie restriction diet is not favorable. Among the restricted categories are the too old and the too young, as well as people who are too thin. Clearly, an effect of calorie reduction is the loss of body fat, and possibly weight. For younger people, this may not be advisable as the body may still be in the process of developing itself optimally. Until the thorough end of adolescence, a young person must fill up on all necessary nutrients to ensure proper growth and development. On the other end of the spectrum, the elderly often have precariously balanced physical equilibrium which can be off-set by a sudden decrease in calorie intake or a sharp change in the diet the elderly has been used to. Aging slows down responses and has markedly longer times for healing and regeneration.

The possible risks when practicing calorie restriction are the following: loss of muscle mass, reduced bone density, menstrual irregularities, and hormonal changes. When weight loss rates are more than 1 to 2 pounds per week, the body experiences several changes. Muscle mass is reduced along with the loss of fat reserves. When this happens, a pronounced change in the physique is noticeable. While this may be seen as positive when overweight, it can also appear unhealthy when the person’s body is already in range of the ideal body for his height and weight. The body’s natural cushioning is also reduced along with loss of fat. Naturally, the body is covered in a cushion of fat and flesh. Without this, the body is more prone to bruises caused by accidental bumps and falls. Because this protective layer of cushioning is also responsible for the natural insulation of the body, a sharp decrease in weight and a pronounced loss of muscle and fat mass can also lead to sensitivity to extreme heat and cold.

Sudden changes in diet, especially when sufficient nutrient is not secured, can lead to reduced bone density. For proper bone growth, two elements are important: calcium, which is used for continued bone repair and resorption, and Vitamin D, which is necessary for the absorption of calcium into the body. Reduced bone mass elevates a person’s risks of fractures in the short-run, and if left unresolved, may lead to osteoporosis in the long-run.

The female body is especially sensitive to changes in the body and diet, because the female body has special reproductive functions that require a certain amount of nutrients. In menstruation, for example, the body must be able to replenish the discharged blood and quickly repair the remnants of separated egg cells. During ovulation, on the other hand, the female body must be able to create the egg cell. With sharp changes in body mass as well as sudden changes in diet, hormones can fluctuate in response to possibly deficient nutrients, and also as a way to protect the body. This can lead to menstrual irregularities as well as other reproductive issues for women.

In long-ranging endeavors such as calorie restriction and attempts at life extension, it is not improbable that the social aspect of the individual’s life may also be affected. calorie restriction diet works through the cumulative effects of reducing calories in the body. Since the key idea is accumulated effects, calorie restriction diet to be truly effective takes time. The impact also takes time, therefore. Among the key social issues present in calorie restriction diet practitioners are under the type of lifestyle, time and finance, and psychology, according to the calorie restriction diet.

Lifestyle changes are sometimes necessary in order to fit in calorie restriction diet into the over-all plans of a practitioner. This includes setting aside time and money to meet the demands of cutting back on calories in meals. For most new practitioners, it takes some time to develop the skill to gauge the calorie and nutrient content of different types of foods, and to determine the best combinations to yield high-nutrient and low-calorie foods. This takes time to master. Many common food items are often cheaper in terms of weight compared to lean meat, fish, and organic vegetables. Again, calorie restriction diet works through accumulation of effects. Short-term expenses are the cost for long-term benefits.

Another important psychological risk involved in calorie restriction is when the practitioner does not realize the principle behind calorie restriction diet. When a thin body is the only desired effect, and not a better and longer life, there can be consequences. The combination of anorexic tendencies with unscientific calorie restriction is very unhealthy, because it is not only calories which are reduced, but nutrient-rich food as well. This is never the intended effect of calorie restriction diet.

Without proper supervision and when practiced in extreme, calorie restriction can lead to anemia, dizziness, depression, lethargy, and irritability. But in the end, like any medicine, it is not the drug per se that harms, but the dosage. When practiced with knowledge, moderation, and the correct mindset of living life to the fullest, calorie restriction proves to be beneficial.