Lower body temperature extends lifespan
85We all know that refrigerating food helps keep it longer. That's because the bacteria and fungi that spoil food grow much more slowly at lower temperatures. Their metabolisms, like that of all living creatures, slow down as they cool down.
Temperature is the key of recent findings by a team of researchers, led by Bruno Conti, at the Scripps Research Institute. Their study found that mice who had lower core body temperatures lived 12% (male) to 20% (female) longer than mice with higher core body temperatures. The difference in temperatures between "cold" and "normal" mice was 0.5-0.9 F (0.3-0.5 C).
Lower body temperature = Lower metabolism
The slowing down of aging had already been demonstrated with cold-blooded animals, like fish. Naturally, it was more difficult to see the effect on warm-blooded animals, since there is an internal thermostat in mammals and birds that maintain a more-or-less constant body temperature (a process called homeostasis), and even a small departure from a narrow range can result in the animal's death.
In this study, genetically-modified mice had their hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates body temperature, gear down the mice's body temperature lower.
Although this experiment was not performed on humans, one could surmise that a similar effect on humans, especially those who had slowed metabolisms due to caloric restriction (i.e. low-calorie diets). 95% of people have a body temperature between 97.5F (36.2C) and 98.9F (37.2C).
However, with a lower body temperature come a generally weaker immune system and the propensity to put on weight, so a lower body temperature isn't something that we should all be necessarily wishing for.
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in agreement and also, that data makes sense. I'm not sure about the co-relationship of one thing to another, say low body temp and body weight, but if you consider that women tend to be cooler-temped and also that women are biologically made to hold weight in hips and tummy for making babies, I could see that connection.
weird factoid, during the Donner party expedition when they were stranded and starving, women outsurvived men 2-1 or something like that and the science community felt it was because of stored fat related to the biology of carrying children.
Very interesting. Thanks.
Interesting, Iðunn -- I never thought about that but definitely during a famine those who have fat/muscle to burn, and those with slower metabolisms, will definitely pull themselves through more easily.
great hub livelonger ...jimmy
ok, this is really a good, i have also read that the lower body temp also makes concentration harder too.....do you have anything to add to that. I have always had a normal temp of 96.8 instead of 98.6, and until recently i havent had any problems with weight, it started hitting me when i hit 30. I am just wondering what is an easy way to speed up my metabolism? I also dont know if me being anemic on and off would make a diffence in all of this.
My butt is freezing here. It is -5 outside, as I type, with a -30 wind chill. Guess that means I could possibly live to suffer through many more of these brutally cold winters eh?
Great hub- I've heard there are groups of people who intentionally restrict their calories to lower their body temp and live longer. The caveat is that it deteriates muscle and the heart is a muscle. THe science is all over the place on this, but it is interesting.
I have low body temp, I am 38, but no boddy believe it, everyone sees me give me max 31, some give me 28, my normal temp is 35.5c sometimes when I wake up it's 35.1, I feel tired all the time, and can't concentrate as much as I used to be when I was at school. my geart rate is very low about 50. I have been to my dr many times, telling him I dont feel well, I have very bad memory, I cant even remember sometimes what I did in teh morning, or where I ate! I have been having high temp about 39.6 which is too high for me, for normal person its like 40.6, tonight I wanted to know if other people have low body temp, and found out it's related to different things which could be treated. I think I prefer to live healty with full strength then 12% longer and feel tired all my life, I can't remember last time I felt good! Everything seems dull, I ve got no energy for anything
You should include information about Wilson's Syndrome with is associated with lower body temperature.
QC Stacy: Expect that Wilson's Syndrome is not recogniced as a real disease.
Does heat increase the rate of decay? Is that why we refrigerate our food?
JIm: You need to check your thyroid. I would start taking t3 or armour if your temp is that low.
The primary reason a lower body temperature will retard aging, is because sugars and proteins don't bind as fast at a lower temperatures. This cross linking causes pathogenic molecules to form called "Advanced Glycation End Products". These cross-linked sugar/protein molecules can contribute to a host of age related diseases and is one of the main reasons we die of old age.
Interesting subject. So people who live in the hot area age faster than the people who live in the cold area? It does not seem true in reallity.
Dao: No, this relates to body temperature. You can live in a cold climate and have a high body temperature, or live in a hot climate and have a low body temperature (at least relative to 37C). It all has to do with your body's temperature setpoint.
Its strange what I've been reading about low body temp and low metabolism. Is that the same as a slow metabolism. I have a normal temp of 95 and have always been able to eat like a pig and stay farely slim. So it doesn't give me a weight gain problem. But I have always looked young for my age I'm told. So I would like to believe this research and hope its true. I have no negative symptoms such as fatique or a fuzzy head though like some with a low temp.
ok guys, my average temperature is 34degrees celcius on a normal day. i dont have Raynauds (however you spell it) and the only thing wrong with me is that i am slightly anemic.....explain that one lol
xxx
wajay_47 says:
3 years ago
Livelonger, you do some really informative hubs. Very nice.