Dieting may impede your body’s ability to fight off the flu. Researchers at Michigan State found that the old wives’ tale of “feed a cold and starve a fever” is just that—an old wives’ tale. A study found that dieting robs the body of its ability to produce vital killer cells need to fight infections, including flu.
In the study, mice were divided into two groups. One was fed a regular diet and the other group’s caloric intake was reduced by 40 percent. Both groups of mice were exposed to the flu virus. Even though mice on the lower calorie diet received adequate vitamins and minerals, they were more likely to die, and those who survived took longer to recover than the mice whose caloric intake was normal.
“If you are exposed to a new strain of influenza, to which your body has not made adequate antibodies to protect you from infection, your body must rely on cells that will kill the virus,” said nutritional immunology professor Elizabeth Gardner. “The natural killer cells are important in controlling the early stages of virus infection because they act quickly once they encounter virus-infected cells. Our studies show that calorically restricted mice have increased susceptibility to influenza, and their bodies are not prepared to produce the amount of natural killer cells needed to combat the stress of fighting an infection.
“Our research shows that having a body ready to fight a virus will lead to a faster recovery and less-severe effects than if it is calorically restricted,” Gardner said. “Adults can calorically restrict their diet eight months out of the year, but during the four months of flu season they need to pump it up to be ready. You need the reserves so your body is ready for any additional stress, including fighting a virus.”
© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
|
