Title : Fasting can fight the flu or the common cold
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Fasting can fight the flu or the common cold
You may have heard the saying - . "Feed a cold, starve a fever"
The phrase refers to eat when you have a cold, and fast when you have a fever.
Some say that avoiding food during a meal helps your body heal infection.
Others say that eating gives your body the fuel it needs to recover quickly.
This article examines whether fasting has any benefit against influenza or the common cold.
What is fasting?
Fasting is defined as abstinence from food, drink, or both, for a period of time.
thereVarious types of fasting, the most common of which include:
- absolute fast :. not to eat or drink, usually for a short period
- water fast :. Enables intake water but nothing more
- Juice fasting Also known as juice cleanse or juice detoxification , and usually involves the exclusive intake fruit and vegetable juices.
- intermittent fasting :. This feed cycles of figures between periods of feeding and fasting periods, which can last up to 24 hours
Conclusion:. There are several ways to fast and each has its own way of restricting the intake of food and beverages
How fast affect your immune system?
fasting forces your body depend on its energy reserves to maintain normal function.
first storeAnd his choice is glucose, which is mainly in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles.
Once glycogen, which usually occurs after 24-48 hours runs out, your body starts using muscle protein and fat for energy ( 1 ).
The use of large amounts of fat as a fuel source produces byproducts called ketones, your body and brain can use as an energy source ( 1 ).
Interestingly, a ketone in particular - beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) -. It was seen to benefit the immune system
Indeed, researchers at the School of Medicine at Yale observed that exposure of human immune cells BHB in amounts that one would expect to find in the body after 2 days fasting result in reduced inflammatory response ( 2 ).
In addition, recent research on mice and humans showed that fasting for 48-72 hours can also promote recycling of damaged immune cells, allowing the regeneration of healthy ( 3 ).
It is noteworthy that the exact ways in which fasting affects the immune system is still not fully understood. More studies are needed.
Conclusion :. short periods of fasting can support healthy immune function, promoting recycling of immune cells and limiting the inflammatory response
Why fasting can help you recover from colds or flu
flu and the common cold symptoms can be caused by either viruses or bacteria.
To be perfectly clear, cold and flu infections are initially caused by the virus, specifically rhinovirus and influenza virus .
However, they are infected with these viruses decreases their defense against bacteria, increasing your chances of simultaneously developing a bacterial infection whose symptoms are often similar to their initial beings.
Interestingly, there is no research to support the idea that the lack of appetite often feel during the first days of a disease is the natural adaptation of your body to fight infection ( 4 ).
Below are three hypotheses that attempt to explain why this might be true are presented.
- From an evolutionary perspective, lack of appetite, eliminates the need to find food. This saves energy, reduces heat loss and essentially allows the body to focus exclusively on the fight against infection ( 5 ).
- refrain from eating limits the supply of nutrients, such as iron and zinc, the infecting agent needs to grow and spread ( 6 ).
- Lack of appetite often accompanies an infection is a way to encourage your body to eliminate the infected cells through a process known as cell apoptosis ( 7 ).
Interestingly, the results of a small study suggest that the type of infection can dictate whether food is beneficial or not ( 8 ).
This study suggests that fasting can better promote healing of bacterial infections, while eating food may be a better way to fight viral infections ( 8 ).
An earlier experiment in mice with bacterial infections supports this. Mice were force-fed were less likely to survive compared to mice allows them to eat according to appetite ( 9 ).
All studies so far seem to agree that the beneficial effects of fasting are limited to the acute phase of infection. - Usually lasting up to a few days
However, currently there are no human studies to examine whether fasting or eating have any effect on the common cold or flu in the real world.
Conclusion :. Many hypotheses try to explain how fasting can help promote healing, but more research is needed to confirm the effects in humans
Fasting and other diseases
in addition to the potential benefits against infections, fasting can also help with the following medical conditions:
- type 2 diabetes: intermittent fasting can have positive effects on insulin resistance and blood sugar levels of some individuals ( 10 11 ).
- Oxidative stress: intermittent fasting can help prevent the disease by limiting oxidative stress and inflammation ( 12 13 14 ).
- Heart health: intermittent fasting can reduce heart risk factors for diseases such as body weight, total cholesterol, blood pressure and triglycerides ( 15 16 ) [
- brain health: Studies in animals and humans suggest that fasting may protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease ( 17 , 18 , 19 ).
- Cancer short periods of fasting could protect cancer patients against damage from chemotherapy and increase the effectiveness of treatment ( 20 21 , 22 , 23 ).
is noteworthy that intermittent fasting has also been shown that cause weight loss ( 10 12 , 15 ).
Therefore, some of the benefits above health may be due to weight loss caused by fasting, unlike fasting itself ( 24 ).
Conclusion: either directly or indirectly, fasting can positively affect various medical conditions
eating certain foods can be beneficial, too [
So far, there is only limited evidence that fasting improves the common cold or flu.
Furthermore, several studies suggest that eating certain foods can improve symptoms of colds and flu.
Best Foods to Fight cold symptoms
hot liquids like soups, provide calories and water. It has also been shown to reduce congestion ( 25 ).
Some people have reported that consumption of dairy products mucosa thickens, leading to increased congestion. However, evidence of this is strictly anecdotal.
On the other hand, drinking enough fluid causes more mucus, making it easier to clean. So be sure to stay well hydrated.
Finally, foods rich in vitamin C as orange , mango, papaya , berries and melon, could also help reduce the severity of symptoms ( 26 ).
Conclusion: The best food and fluids to consume during a cold include soups, hot drinks and foods rich in vitamin C.
Best Food to combat flu symptoms
When it comes to reducing symptoms associated with stomach flu, it is best to stick to eating soft, bland foods.
Examples include clear soup broths or meals consisting exclusively of fruit or starch, like rice or potatoes .
To facilitate an upset stomach, try to stay away from irritants, such caffeine substances and acidic or spicy foods. Also consider avoid very fatty foods, which take longer to digest.
If you feel nauseous, try incorporating some Ginger in your diet ( 27 28 ).
Finally, be sure to stay hydrated. Add a pinch of salt their fluids also help replace some of the electrolytes lost through sweating, vomiting or diarrhea.
Conclusion: The soft and easy to digest foods are better when you have the flu. Drinking plenty of fluids is important, and adding ginger may help reduce nausea.
The best foods to prevent the common cold or flu
Surprisingly, your digestive system represents more than 70% of your immune system ( 29 ).
This is due in large part to the large number of beneficial bacteria that reside there, which can be strengthened by the adoption of probiotics .
Probiotics help prevent harmful bacteria from taking control of your bowels or enter the bloodstream, effectively protecting you from infection.
can be found in probiotic foods as Yogurt with live cultures kefir , sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh and Kombucha .
To ensure these beneficial bacteria continue to multiply, be sure to also favor a diet rich in prebiotics as banana nder onions and dandelion.
The garlic, besides being a prebiotic, contains compounds shown to prevent infection and increase the defenses against the common cold and flu ( 30 31 , 32 ).
Finally, make sure that you are eating a lot of , nutrient-rich whole foods.
Conclusion :. consumption of prebiotics, probiotics, garlic and a healthy diet can help avoid getting a cold or flu
Should you fast when you are sick?
Based on current evidence, eat when hungry seems like a good idea.
However, there is no reason to force yourself to eat if you do not feel hungry.
Regardless of whether you eat or not, be aware that consuming adequate fluids and getting enough rest amounts it remains key.
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