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Immune-boosting foods are having a moment!
Too bad there aren’t any.
What do we really know about diet and the immune system? What's the rationale for "immune boosting" foods? Glad you asked!
This recent paper is a good start. And this is a thread. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723551/
Too bad there aren’t any.
What do we really know about diet and the immune system? What's the rationale for "immune boosting" foods? Glad you asked!
This recent paper is a good start. And this is a thread. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723551/
We absolutely know some of the nutrients involved in our immune system. Vitamin A! Arginine! Selenium! But we have almost no evidence about whether eating foods that have those things actually help people fight off pathogens like, say, VIRUSES (to pick an example at random).
Doubt it? hop on over to PubMed. Look for controlled trials that feed actual humans an actual food and then track whether they get fewer viruses.
On seconds thought, don’t. It’s just a waste of time. There are virtually none. I found zero, but my search wasn’t exhaustive.
On seconds thought, don’t. It’s just a waste of time. There are virtually none. I found zero, but my search wasn’t exhaustive.
And this is how supplement scams and food fads are built:
Nutrient A is involved, somehow, in Body Function X
Food Z contains Nutrient A
Therefore, Food Z improves Body Function X
This is a very tempting line of reasoning but it is BUNK.
Nutrient A is involved, somehow, in Body Function X
Food Z contains Nutrient A
Therefore, Food Z improves Body Function X
This is a very tempting line of reasoning but it is BUNK.
It’s bunk because what we know is DWARFED by what we don’t know, including:
How low do levels have to be before immune function is impaired?
Do higher levels improve immune function?
Could higher levels actually impair function?
What’s YOUR level?
How low do levels have to be before immune function is impaired?
Do higher levels improve immune function?
Could higher levels actually impair function?
What’s YOUR level?
The most important thing we don’t have is a complete understanding of how human immune systems function. If you cherry-pick one thing we discovered and drink gallons of green tea, your risk is ignoring all the things we DON’T KNOW.
Here’s @cararosenbloom, getting it exactly right in the @washingtonpost:
“The medical profession still doesn’t know exactly how to influence the immune system despite what supplement products may claim” https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/immune-boost-coronavirus/2020/03/05/e111554a-5e73-11ea-b014-4fafa866bb81_story.html
“The medical profession still doesn’t know exactly how to influence the immune system despite what supplement products may claim” https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/immune-boost-coronavirus/2020/03/05/e111554a-5e73-11ea-b014-4fafa866bb81_story.html
But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless! Overall poor nutrition CAN compromise immune function, so we all need all-around healthful diet. Lots of whole-ish foods, lots of variety. If you want a refresher on that, I wrote about it: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/heres-what-the-governments-dietary-guidelines-should-really-say/2019/03/25/69f86e12-4beb-11e9-93d0-64dbcf38ba41_story.html
We all want to feel like we’re taking action to reduce risk in a very scary situation. And fear can make those “boost your immune system” claims very compelling. If it’s a food, and you enjoy it, by all means have some. If it’s a supplement, save your money.
I think the “immune boost” line gets traction because we want to feel in control in an out-of-control situation. I feel it acutely, and am trying to cook, eat, & exercise in ways that help me feel stronger, and better able to face what comes.
The end https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/being-stuck-at-home-may-have-an-upside-when-it-comes-to-eating-you-can-take-control/2020/03/27/cb7c4c18-6ee9-11ea-aa80-c2470c6b2034_story.html
The end https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/being-stuck-at-home-may-have-an-upside-when-it-comes-to-eating-you-can-take-control/2020/03/27/cb7c4c18-6ee9-11ea-aa80-c2470c6b2034_story.html
