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

eurekalert.org

111–120 of 194 posts

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

#111

I wonder if similar benefits can be had by practicing the method of "lean gains" aka "intermittent fasting", or whether this only works with 3 days of fasting, which is a long time to go without food. I'd certainly find it hard to be productive during that extended period.

Everybody is different, and my anecdote should have very little weight attached to it, but ...

I do an 18 hour fast once per week, which is a very modest fast. On the other hand, I have a very, very comprehensive and intense exercise regimen, so my resting metabolic rate is quite high, and 18 hours with zero calories clears my body out very thoroughly.

And I notice it greatly - it feels fantastic. I feel very quick and light on my feet. It's noticeable.

Am I improving my immune system ? Who knows. However, it is definitely less than a 3 day fast, and it definitely improves my health.

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

#112
post #107

i fasted for 14 days on spirulina tablets and water as an office bet to prove its effectiveness and still take it everyday. every now and then i do 3-5 day fast to cleanse my body, but technically i'm still eating food. i have yet to do any blood tests to prove its effectiveness besides my own experiments and what i've read. i also don't recommend people doing a fast for 14 days...maybe 3-5 days at first. after the f…

Can you share further reading material or studies behind spirulina?

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

#113
post #35

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

No reason to downvote this guy, he has a valid point. Scientists should look at the wisdom of people.

What people should look for is a well preserved meme.

Fasting is a very, very well preserved meme - across broad geography and many different ethnic and religious groups.

That means something. Regardless of whether or not we understand the science of it, or how we feel about "the messenger" (in this case, religious teachings that we may or may not harbor animosity towards), a very well preserved meme is worthy of our attention.

Is it true ? I don't know. It's interesting, though, and is worthy of our attention.

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

#114

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…

> Muhammad was an illiterate shepherd after all

An illiterate shepherd? He was a merchant until he was 40 and then became a warrior.

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

#115

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…

> 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. To look at it from the opposite perspective, here's a helpful guide for scientists on how to get a health study into the UK news: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2014/12December/Pages/your-guide-to-h...

"Boffins, are you having trouble communicating the fruits of your labour to a wider audience?

Have you spent five thankless years going through stool samples in an attempt to find new treatments for giardiasis only to have your work written up as a single paragraph on page 34 of the Rochdale Observer?

Well, worry no more. Drawing on decades of journalistic experience, the Behind the Headlines team has come up with the definitive guide to getting your work featured prominently on News at Ten. Simply follow the 10 tips below and before you know it you’ll be talking p-values with Phil and Holly on ITV's This Morning."

---

This reads like a Register article after Lewis Page has forgotten to take his pills again.

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

#117
Fasted once for 4.5 days (5 nights) and and blood work done just before breaking the fast.

The fast was purely water based, cold turkey (no gradual caloric reduction).

The first 2 days were a bit hard because I felt hungry, after that I felt no hunger, slept really well, woke up well rested but with tingles in my feet and felt very alert though also calm.

One night I woke up to pee (I drank a lot of water) and I still don't remember what happened but I woke up with my head on the toilet bowl.

The blood work came up all messed up.

Glucose levels were extremely low. Sedimentation rate extremely high. Lots of ketones in the urine.

Broke the fast with some fruit juice and had no problems.

I've also engaged in intermittent water fading for about 3 months. All went fine.

Once spent almost 40 hours of total fasting (no water). Do not recommend it, I felt seriously messed up.

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

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By "call," maybe you are inferring belief but I mean it with no belief and even plenty of skepticism implied.

Can you separate belief from labelling someone prohpetic/visionary? I label a dog a dog because I believe it's a dog. I don't call a cat a dog with plenty of skepticism. I'm not going to give anyone the label of prophetic/visionary, even with plenty of skepticism. As a non-mormon I consider the prophetic/visionary concept to be fiction, and won't use it on anyone because I don't consider it possible - skepticism does…

Sure you can. To give an example outside of Mormonism, you can say that the Oracle at Delphi had a prophetic / visionary role within ancient Greek culture, without having to believe in the Oracle's prophetic visions.

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

#119
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If God exists, I doubt he cares if we beleive in him or not. I like to beleive he would not be that insecure.

for the sake of argument let's assume there is a God. and let's say He was better than all the things He created. better than that awesome sunset that you saw that took your breath away; better than that favorite meal you love -- you know the one. love is giving the object of your love the best... the best you've got. what if God giving Himself was Love defined? just for argument's sake...

That's a bad assumption to start with because there is no evidence of such a thing. "just for the sake of argument, let's assume there are invisible horses everywhere. (followed by explanation of how these horses are responsible for love)"

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

#120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

As long as you're in good health and stay hydrated, you can safely fast for almost 30 days. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25552155 "Conclusion: Ramadan fasting is associated with transiently impaired insulin sensitivity, compensated for by an increased p3-cell function. However, the pattern of insulin resistance-mediating adipocytokines suggests a potentially beneficial metabolic effect of Ramadan fasting." http…

Ramadan is fasting in the same way that only having sex at night maintains virginity.
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