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

eurekalert.org

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

#81

Post by solarmist »

pan69 wrote: post #57
solarmist wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What millennia of anecdotal evidence? I've heard claims like that before, but never seen the source of any of these claims. Really? In the past it was common not to eat, voluntarily? That seems hard to believe with how central food is to every culture I've ever been exposed to. In fact you are seen as odd if you choose NOT to partake when others are. If this is common knowledge to you it is certainly not for me, whic…

Aren't humans hunter-gathers and not having food for some periods of time has become part of who we are? To me vasting makes total sense, whether it's religious, spiritual or otherwise.

We know very little about pre-historical diets, there are almost as many theories on it as there are current human diets. Just look at any two descriptions of the "paleo diet".

I'm sure though that the tribes/groups that had best access to food were the most successful, so I'd assume that fasting was something to avoid for them, not embrace. I'd be willing to bet that in reality, before the rise of civilization (and expansion to less hospitable climates), that fasting was more uncommon than the general population believes (most modern hunter/gatherer tribes eat pretty well), if food started to get scarce you went and found more. Food isn't really scarce if you live in a good area, and while our species was growing up we lived on very fertile lands.

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

#82

Post by jqm »

mknits wrote: post #35

Forget the study, people belonging to Jainism know this for centuries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism

Maybe "forget studies" (i.e "embrace this particular faith to provide relevant knowledge") could be the reason for the down votes?

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

#83

Post by mikkom »

ovi256 wrote: post #63
bicknergseng wrote: post #49

>>But I think the most sensible way forward would be to synthesize this effect with drugs. I'm no naturopath, but something about this attitude really bugs me. I know in context he was cautioning against jumping to conclusions, but if there was a safe, low barrier to entry, non-drug way of achieving an effect, why would you encourage people to take a drug instead?

Fasting for three days is not a safe, low barrier to entry, way. A healthy person with no critical commitments or delicate work can do it safely, but lots of people would not. Note that one side effect observed during the protocol was fainting.

These were cancer patients or am I mistaken?

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

#84

Post by solarmist »

wtbob wrote: post #36
solarmist wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What millennia of anecdotal evidence? I've heard claims like that before, but never seen the source of any of these claims. Really? In the past it was common not to eat, voluntarily? That seems hard to believe with how central food is to every culture I've ever been exposed to. In fact you are seen as odd if you choose NOT to partake when others are. If this is common knowledge to you it is certainly not for me, whic…

> In the past it was common not to eat, voluntarily? Pretty much every religion of which I'm aware has the concept of fasting, and on every culture people terms to make an attempt to follow their religion's strictures (c.f. all the folds you see running at the gym). Sure, as you more religions don't tend to mention the physical health benefits, but they certainly believe in the psychological health benefits. Regardle…

Really? My understanding of religious fasting was it was a form of devotion. To show how dedicated you were to that cause. Or to show that you could overcome your biological instincts.

In other words to demonstrate fortitude, strength of will, and discipline, and thus become closer to an ideal that is mostly considered non-biological or rather transcend the biological (God/Nirvana/etc). Or to empathize with suffering/deprivation of others.

So, while I guess those could be considered benefits, I don't really see it.

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

#85

Post by danieltillett »

disputin wrote: post #68
ryanhuff wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have heard Christians use the term "prophetic". Search Amazon for the term and you will find many books on the topic.

Are mormons not christians?

They are Christians in the same sense as Moslems are.

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

#86

Post by tinco »

danieltillett wrote: post #85
disputin wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are mormons not christians?

They are Christians in the same sense as Moslems are.

No. Muslims believe only parts of the Christian bible are divine. Mormons believe all parts of both the old and the new testament are divine, and addition believe in a third book (that I've only read the intro to) which has additional tales of Jesus Christ and companions.

They are as Christian as catholics are, perhaps even more so as in my opinion they follow his ideology a whole lot better.

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

#87

Post by jotm »

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…

Any kind of stress will trigger an increase in immune system activity and cell regeneration. Fasting is one way to do it, working out until you're exhausted is another. A balance between the two is probably best for training your body to be strong.

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

#88

Post by crystaln »

ovi256 wrote: post #63
bicknergseng wrote: post #49

>>But I think the most sensible way forward would be to synthesize this effect with drugs. I'm no naturopath, but something about this attitude really bugs me. I know in context he was cautioning against jumping to conclusions, but if there was a safe, low barrier to entry, non-drug way of achieving an effect, why would you encourage people to take a drug instead?

Fasting for three days is not a safe, low barrier to entry, way. A healthy person with no critical commitments or delicate work can do it safely, but lots of people would not. Note that one side effect observed during the protocol was fainting.

Is there any evidence that fasting for 3 days is not safe or is this just an assumption? As I understand it is perfectly safe for all but the most fragile people.

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

#89

Post by vladtaltos »

halflings wrote: post #67
vpeters25 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not religious or anything, but I think some of the religious rules come from their leaders realizing that making them "rules from God" would benefit their people and give a better chance of survival: - kosher rules are pretty much there to prevent people from preparing food in unsanitary ways or eating potentially dangerous stuff (eating pork will kill you by worms growing in your gut) - the 10 commandments are…

>> - fasting on Ramadan was probably created by a religious leader who felt better after doing it himself and though it to be a good idea for everybody else to do it. That religious leader would be Muhammad. That's one way to see things and how I explain part of my belief in Islam to non-religious people: Worst case scenario, I'm just doing things that I believe are pretty smart (fasting, praying, helping the poor an…

you're supposed to 'believe' to benefit from the best case scenario dude :) just rationalizing about it is not supposed to be enough...

and additionally, fasting was around before it was introduced in islam; check it's versions in judaism, christianity... actually, it was also around before that. people used to fast during equinoxes for a very long time for all sorts of different ceremonies...

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

#90

Post by dang »

reasonattlm wrote: post #32

Better publicity materials: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-06/uosc-fts06021... The paper: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2014.04.014 Really it's just not worth even reading whatever the popular press has to say about a particular strand of research, especially when lines like "regenerate the entire immune system" are thrown around. No, no, no. Not what is happening: read the paper or even just the publ…

Ok, we changed the url to that first one instead of http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10878625/Fasting-for-....
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