🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Someone conducted an experiment: one group of rats was fed only eight-tenths full, another group ate freely. Results showed that rats fed eight-tenths full lived longer. Americans studied worms, mice, rats, and monkeys, reducing their food intake by 30%—their lifespan extended by 30% compared to normal-fed counterparts. Observations of humans show that centenarians are rarely obese. Bama Yao Autonomous County, located in the northern suburbs of Nanning, is economically underdeveloped but renowned for longevity, with many residents living past 100 years. Their health secret includes eating only eight-tenths full and consuming mostly plant-based foods. Of course, there are many other factors contributing to longevity, and various health practices exist, but the habit of eating only eight-tenths full among long-lived people is worth emulating.
In Chinese folk wisdom, there is the saying “Less is tastier, more is harmful” and “Don’t overeat when hungry, don’t drink excessively when thirsty.” The *Shouqin Yanglao Xinshu* states: “Elderly people should not eat to fullness at once.” The *Inner Canon* emphasizes: “Eat with moderation… thus one can maintain harmony between form and spirit, living to the full span of life, reaching a hundred years.” These are experiences of long-lived individuals. Excessive calorie intake leads to obesity and “diseases of affluence,” inevitably shortening lifespan.
Why restricting calories extends lifespan requires deeper physiological research. One hypothesis suggests that when the body senses limited energy supply, metabolism slows down to conserve energy. Slower metabolism produces fewer toxic byproducts and waste materials, reducing the burden on the body’s absorption and detoxification systems. Thus, the body operates at a relatively lower metabolic level, with reduced catabolism, leading to extended lifespan. Naturally, these hypotheses require further validation. Animal study results may not fully apply to humans, but the insight that eating eight-tenths full contributes to longevity is worth serious consideration and exploration.
How to achieve “eight-tenths full”? First, one must have willpower—resist temptation from delicacies even when slightly hungry, and leave the table decisively. When the next mealtime arrives and genuine hunger is felt, it indicates good digestive function and healthy appetite. Drinking soup or congee before meals creates early satiety, helping prevent overeating. Overweight individuals often have increased appetite due to fat cells secreting appetite-stimulating substances. Delicious food also stimulates appetite, creating a vicious cycle where the stomach expands, making satiety harder to achieve, leading to overeating. TCM describes this as “stomach fire hidden, excessive hunger”—indicating that excessive appetite is pathological. The principle of eating eight-tenths full should be adapted flexibly based on individual conditions. For patients with malnutrition, advanced cancer with cachexia, or severe hypoproteinemia, strictly adhering to eight-tenths full is not recommended.