exchemist
Veteran Member
Read this: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system
Is the University of Southern California any good? I'm in the UK so I wouldn't know. But the article seems to hang together.
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Does fasting boost your immune system?
- Thread starter Quagmire
- Start date
Is the University of Southern California any good? I'm in the UK so I wouldn't know. But the article seems to hang together.
How about you just explain how cutting off your body's essential nutrients triggers stem cell regeneration.
How about that?
Because I'm not seeing any more reason to follow the links than I do when a creationist posts a link to "proof" that Noah's ark has been discovered. It's just another bit of internet b.s.
Give me a reason to believe that fasting can improve your immunological system, for people who are basically healthy and fed and and rational and educated, and I'll listen.
But I'm not likely to spend much time on vague posts about how lack of nutrition is healthy. No more than I'm willing to spend on vague posts from people telling me that Jesus Rose from the dead, and therefore my marriage is sinful and God is going to mess with me when I die.
Tom
exchemist
Veteran Member
OK. The research, done on both mice and human volunteers, involved fasting and monitoring what happened to white blood cells. The white cell count went down during the fasting but then came back up when the feeding resumed. The question was what went on in the process. What seems to happen is a lot of old white cells get consumed and that stem cells are triggered by the stress of lack of food, so that when feeding resumes, these stem cells produce new white cells.
The researchers thus believe that this cycle rejuvenates the population of white cells in the body, leading to an overall improvement in the performance of the immune system.
I didn't know you had it, exchemist. Take care of yourself and good luck man.Yes that's right. As @Quagmire says, you have fat and also glycogen (mainly in the liver I think) which are long-term and medium-term batteries (I think it's that way round but I could be wrong). Our ancestors did not get 3 square meals a day, so these batteries were presumably pretty crucial when we first evolved.
In fact, one could make a speculative case for saying it is modern life that is unnatural, as it does not put these battery systems through their paces enough. But the research does seem to show the immune system is depressed by fasting, so it may not aways be a good idea to do it. Now, for instance, would be a really crap time to start!
(When my doctor brother heard I had got Covid-19 last week, his advice was to make sure I ate a full English breakfast, to keep my immune system up - and to stay off the booze, as that depresses it. I didn't quite manage the full English but I made sure I kept eating healthily)
I demand you give me proof so I can refuse to read it!!
Then again, I just found this:
Insider › avoid...
Web results
Intermittent fasting may be a bad idea during the coronavirus pandemic - Insider
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.insider.com/avoid-intermittent-fasting-diets-during-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-3?amp&ved=2ahUKEwjd6IfY4bboAhURpJ4KHQnUDpwQFjANegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw2FCChZnm3ku9i13DRXgsS6&cf=1
Insider › avoid...
Web results
Intermittent fasting may be a bad idea during the coronavirus pandemic - Insider
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.insider.com/avoid-intermittent-fasting-diets-during-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-3?amp&ved=2ahUKEwjd6IfY4bboAhURpJ4KHQnUDpwQFjANegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw2FCChZnm3ku9i13DRXgsS6&cf=1
USC is a highly rated research university. It's produced several Nobel laureates and Rhodes scholars.
http s://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&...FjAAegQIBxAD&usg=AOvVaw1qyQjDDv34tv0gmbgxKFBo
oldbadger
Skanky Old Mongrel!
Doctor Chris Mason:- “But I think the most sensible way forward would be to synthesize this effect with drugs. I am not sure fasting is the best idea. People are better eating on a regular basis.”
They all seem to agree that fasting causes thde white blood cells to reduce, and then re-feeding causes an increased return. Maybe it would be luck about at which point a virus attacked?
I like dawn-to-dusk fasting over a period of time, but doctors and even religions do not recommend (or allow) it in the very young, very old, sick or pregnant.
oldbadger
Skanky Old Mongrel!
The above was sent to another.
When specialists are not in complete accord, then we are only left with thoughts, I'm afraid.
From the link:-
However, some British experts were sceptical of the research.
Dr Graham Rook, emeritus professor of immunology at University College London, said the study sounded "improbable".
Chris Mason, Professor of Regenerative Medicine at UCL, said: “There is some interesting data here. It sees that fasting reduces the number and size of cells and then re-feeding at 72 hours saw a rebound.
“That could be potentially useful because that is not such a long time that it would be terribly harmful to someone with cancer.
“But I think the most sensible way forward would be to synthesize this effect with drugs. I am not sure fasting is the best idea. People are better eating on a regular basis.”
exchemist
Veteran Member
Reported as spam. This is laughably obvious, pseudoscientific claptrap.
Howard Is
Lucky Mud
But it sounds so...quantum, you know ?
And they seem to have thought of everything...
Without the scientifically physical instruments, I would have my doubts, but...
exchemist
Veteran Member
That's what I was suggesting in post 39.
You would go through a dip in immunity while fasting. So you would frankly need your head examined if you were to chose to embark on that right now.
exchemist
Veteran Member
Yeah, quantum woo for gullible people, in order to sell them some kind of snake oil.
Expressing skepticism based on research, review, and rational thinking is one thing.
Dubbing something as "dangerously false" based on a hunch or a wild guess --- or just because the idea of incorporating any method that would require self-discipline seems repugnant to someone--- is something else all together.
oldbadger
Skanky Old Mongrel!
I quoted what I read on the link, is all.
Here is one for you, on the side of this thread.... I think it was you who posted with others that face masks are not protective. Is that right?
I can tell you that face masks are being worn as protective wear by as many of our care and health workers in the UK as can be supplied with them, for their protection.
You see? Stories one way and t'other are going around everywhere, my wife wears one on her essential-service work with all her colleagues.
There is bound to be difference of opinion flying around.
No hassle intended.
I wasn't talking about you. This is why I don't usually respond to your posts: more times than not, you seem to completely misinterpret what I write. Sometimes in the most bizarre and baffling ways.
No.
I can tell you that face masks are being worn as protective wear by as many of our care and health workers in the UK as can be supplied with them, for their protection.
You see? Stories one way and t'other are going around everywhere, my wife wears one on her essential-service work with all her colleagues.
There is bound to be difference of opinion flying around.
No hassle intended.
You still don't get it, but that's OK.
How about we leave it at that?
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
I think fasting is a good thing but I stay wary of holistics and alternative medicines.
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
That and an apple a day keeps the doctor away.