I was considering sending the post below to another, science-based
email list (ivu-sci), but decided against it as the article cited has
"too much" animal research in it. [Discussion of animal research
is limited/controlled on ivu-sci, as it is a veggie list. This is
not a complaint -- instead, I acknowledge their wishes and act
in compliance with them.] So I thought I would post it here instead as
some on this list may be interested in fasting.


An article in the latest issue (6 March 2001) of "Nature" has a
short article on fasting and autoimmune disease.

"Immunology: Fast and feel good?"
VIJAY K. KUCHROO AND LINDSAY B. NICHOLSON

Nature, vol. 422, no. 6927, pp. 27 - 28.

First paragraph:
Claims that fasting eases symptoms of autoimmune disease have
been met with scepticism. But the idea receives some support
from the finding that leptin, a hormone that controls body weight,
also regulates autoimmunity.

Full text is online for subscribers and those with web access.
Note: The article includes some discussion of animal research, and
some readers will choose to skip those parts of the article.

Please start a separate discussion thread if you have
not read the full text of the paper, but want to discuss the
general topic. Thanks.

Tom Billings