Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system (2014)

eurekalert.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 194 posts

Re: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system (2014)

#21

Post by atoponce »

I recognize this as completely empirical evidence, so take it as that.

I am a Mormon. As part of our religious observance, we fast for 2 meals on the first Sunday of every month. Also, I have fasted for the entire duration of the Muslim month of Ramadan twice now.

For Mormons, food and drink is abstained starting Saturday night after dinner until Sunday night's dinner. By the time dinner rolls around Sunday night, I am pretty weak. However, I have noticed that when I fast that Sunday, the following week, my system seems to clean itself out. I feel more alert, and energy seems to peak for a prolonged duration that first week.

While participating in Ramadan, food and drink is abstained from dawn to sunset for each day during the month. This usually means packing in the necessary proteins and carbohydrates for slow breakdown in the morning, and a filler at night. Both times, I shed about 10-15 pounds.

Ramadan was much more difficult for me to participate in, because I need to remain alert and active while at work. I can maintain that needed level until early in the afternoon, when I start to slow down. By the time my shift is over, I'm really not very productive. However, right about the time I am getting off of my shift, I notice that my hunger pains disappear, even though I'm still weak.

While I can't say I notice the increased energy or alertness at the end of the Ramadan, shedding the weight was a positive bonus, although it was not intended.

In both cases, Mormon fasting and participating in Ramadan, I can say that I have noticed personal health benefits, whether it is increased energy, or losing weight. Others I have talked to have noticed the same thing, both Mormons and Muslims alike.

So, it doesn't surprise me that there will be immune system benefits as well.

Re: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system (2014)

#22

Post by schrodinger »

PakG1 wrote: post #15

I fasted once for three days in university. Only water. Bumped into a friend who raved about it and so I tried it out. It was a faith thing. First day was not bad. Second day was horrible. That day just happened to be the day when all these university student associations decided to put on a whole bunch of events that had food. The First Nations Student Association served roasted corn, salmon, and bannock. Another cl…

I was doing two day fasts ever other week or so for a while. The first time, it was really hard - I felt sick to my stomach, weak, and almost gave up. After that time though, once I realized that no it's not going to kill me, got much easier and I actually started to enjoy the relaxation it brought.

Re: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system (2014)

#23

Post by cubano »

I hate the fact that this study seems to be tainted with potential conflict of interest as outlined by @themodelplumber.

I wish science could get back to just-being-science and focus on provable, repeatable results sans corporate involvement, as I think if this is really true, it could be a real breakthrough.

I have some experience with fasting, and was always surprised how good I felt after a couple of days, and to be honest the times I was actively living a fasting lifestyle, I do not remember ever getting sick.

Yes yes I know...a big bag of confirmation bias and anecdotal evidence, which is why I hope deeper, hard-science studies will continue.

Re: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system (2014)

#24

Post by SwellJoe »

rgbrenner wrote: post #18
thethrows wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True, we need to be able to reproduce and confirm technically that fasting correctly is good for people. But you cannot simply ignore millenia of anecdotal evidence that people who fast simply are more healthier. I find it odd that it's now considered normal to stuff yourself all the time, when historically before maybe a century ago it was considered totally normal to not eat all the time(involuntarily or otherwise)…

anecdotal evidence that people who fast simply are more healthier. If they are healthier, are they healthier because of fasting or simply from reduced caloric intake? Would someone who ate less (smaller meals, etc) be healthier than someone who fasts?

In caloric reduction research, there is indication that fasting can be similarly effective to caloric reduction, and may be easier to achieve for many people than a sustained calorie reduction (the amount of calorie reduction thought to be required for effectiveness is thought to be quite challenging to live with longterm...leading to feeling hungry pretty much all the time). Feeling really hungry one day a week may be easier than feeling a little hungry 24/7 every day for the rest of your life.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I think there are still plenty of questions unanswered about this issue. But, I've seen enough evidence, from disparate enough peer-reviewed sources, to think fasting is worth integrating into my life.

Re: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system (2014)

#25

Post by mb_72 »

atoponce wrote: post #21

I recognize this as completely empirical evidence, so take it as that. I am a Mormon. As part of our religious observance, we fast for 2 meals on the first Sunday of every month. Also, I have fasted for the entire duration of the Muslim month of Ramadan twice now. For Mormons, food and drink is abstained starting Saturday night after dinner until Sunday night's dinner. By the time dinner rolls around Sunday night, I…

I have Crohn's disease, have therefore been exposed to numerous doubtful stories about 'boosting the immune' system. With my illness, a 'boost' would actually make me sicker, whereas I find that fasting for a couple of days results in improvement of symptoms for me. Why? Obviously because my digestive system becomes empty, and there is less irritation of damaged intestinal lining. Going by this study, an increased production of white blood cells should make me sicker. My anecdotal evidence does not support their findings.

Long story short - if their claims are true they will be able to be reproduced by other researchers. Until then, colour me sceptical.

Re: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system (2014)

#26

Post by reasonattlm »

themodelplumber wrote: post #6

Looks like this is the study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3608686/ (Edit: Nope, see reply below) Interesting conflict of interest (edit: potential conflict) with the researcher being the founder of a food supplement marketing company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valter_Longo Edit: I was wondering what the fasting + supplement connection was. Here we go: "L-Nutra's first line of products stems from 15…

As others noted you pointed out the wrong study.

For what it's worth Longo has has been working on aging, calorie restriction, and intermittent fasting research for some time. Look back through the history of his papers [1] and you'll see solid work. As I understand it he is presently doing the work needed to package up intermittent fasting into something that can be used as a treatment rigorously enough to keep the FDA happy [2], [3].

[1]: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Longo+VD

[2]: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25549805

[3]: http://news.usc.edu/58074/wanted-a-recipe-for-longevity/

Re: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system (2014)

#27

Post by themodelplumber »

atoponce wrote: post #21

I recognize this as completely empirical evidence, so take it as that. I am a Mormon. As part of our religious observance, we fast for 2 meals on the first Sunday of every month. Also, I have fasted for the entire duration of the Muslim month of Ramadan twice now. For Mormons, food and drink is abstained starting Saturday night after dinner until Sunday night's dinner. By the time dinner rolls around Sunday night, I…

I'm a Mormon, too, and just wanted to point out a couple of things:

> we fast for 2 meals on the first Sunday of every month.

Not everyone does (pregnant or nursing women, or the sick, for example (edit: or people who just don't wanna)), and not everyone fasts for that period of time. Some people in different roles in the church (what non-Mormons might call a prophetic / visionary role) are encouraged to fast more often.

> For Mormons, food and drink is abstained starting Saturday night after dinner until Sunday night's dinner.

Many will frequently shift their fasting times. I do. Just posting this because I often talk to people who tell me exactly what I believe, because they read it online.

> In both cases, Mormon fasting and participating in Ramadan, I can say that I have noticed personal health benefits

I'm just another anecdote, but I have noticed no personal health benefits. What I would call thinking or meditation benefits, perhaps. I have frequently felt relief that while I may have overeaten the day before a fast, my belt will usually fit nicely on the following fast day. ;)

Re: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system (2014)

#28

Post by fesja »

It's not so surprising to me. When you have stomach ache, the first thing they tell you is not to eat until you have been cleansed. We have always done that in my family. Also, once that I had a weird allergy on my skin (I'm not allergic to anything) I fasted for 4 days drinking Aquarius and some ham and rice the last 2 days. I didn't need any pills.
Post reply on HN