We have miles to go before we sleep, and then more miles while we sleep.
“I’ll have none of this “new year, new me” rubbish... I was fabulous then and I’m fabulous now.” (x.com/nanato18babies)
Can a viral infection make you end up obese? Maybe:
“Interestingly, some viruses appear to cause increased adiposity [86]. Canine distemper virus was shown to cause obesity in mice [87]. This effect was not mediated through the interaction of immune cells with adipose tissue but rather through the infection of neurons and glial cells in the brain. Damage to the hypothalamus caused by this virus was shown to promote nutrient uptake in adipose tissue and thus cause obesity [87].”
“It turns out that the sickness we feel when we get an infection isn't actually a disease, but a deliberate survival strategy developed by the body that has been conserved for over 500 million years.
When we contract an infectious disease, we experience fever, loss of appetite, and fatigue. These symptoms have long been considered pathological conditions. However, recent research has revealed that these are actually "strategic metabolic changes" intentionally induced by the immune system.
The purpose of these metabolic changes is twofold: first, to deprive pathogens of necessary nutrients, and second, to create a metabolic environment in which the body can optimally fight infection.
Interestingly, this mechanism is also observed in fish, reptiles, and insects, organisms that diverged from humans more than 500 million years ago. For example, iguanas have a significantly higher mortality rate if they are unable to heat themselves during infection. Evolutionarily conserved metabolic control mechanisms Cold-blooded animals (fish, reptiles, insects, etc.) seek out warmer environments and heat themselves up during infection.
The lack of appetite during infection is also important: force-feeding Listeria-infected mice increases mortality, and feeding fruit flies a protein-rich diet also increases mortality.
Feeling fatigued is actually a deliberate control by the immune system. NK cells (a type of immune cell) secrete interferon gamma in the muscles, suppressing the uptake of glucose (sugar) in the muscles. This activates a mechanism that prioritizes the supply of limited nutrients to the immune system.
Even more intriguingly, this mechanism has relevance to modern metabolic disease: the metabolic stress of obesity induces an immune response similar to that seen in viral infections, where changes that are temporary during infection become permanent in obesity.
These findings may lead to the development of new treatments for infectious and metabolic diseases, especially therapeutic strategies targeting tissue-specific immune cell–metabolic organ interactions." (x.com/Alzhacker)
The immunology of sickness metabolism. Cell Mol Immunol. 2024
Abstract: Everyone knows that an infection can make you feel sick. Although we perceive infection-induced changes in metabolism as a pathology, they are a part of a carefully regulated process that depends on tissue-specific interactions between the immune system and organs involved in the regulation of systemic homeostasis. Immune-mediated changes in homeostatic parameters lead to altered production and uptake of nutrients in circulation, which modifies the metabolic rate of key organs. This is what we experience as being sick. The purpose of sickness metabolism is to generate a metabolic environment in which the body is optimally able to fight infection while denying vital nutrients for the replication of pathogens. Sickness metabolism depends on tissue-specific immune cells, which mediate responses tailored to the nature and magnitude of the threat. As an infection increases in severity, so do the number and type of immune cells involved and the level to which organs are affected, which dictates the degree to which we feel sick. Interestingly, many alterations associated with metabolic disease appear to overlap with immune-mediated changes observed following infection. Targeting processes involving tissue-specific interactions between activated immune cells and metabolic organs therefore holds great potential for treating both people with severe infection and those with metabolic disease. In this review, we will discuss how the immune system communicates in situ with organs involved in the regulation of homeostasis and how this communication is impacted by infection.”
(Wensveen, Šestan, and Polić, 2024) Wensveen FM, Šestan M, Polić B. The immunology of sickness metabolism. Cell Mol Immunol. 2024 Sep;21(9):1051-1065. doi: 10.1038/s41423-024-01192-4. Epub 2024 Aug 6. PMID: 39107476; PMCID: PMC11364700.
Addition - part 2, how can this information help us?
Practical implications of this research:
1Application to infectious disease treatment It has been found that metabolic changes during infection are not pathological conditions, but are part of the body's defenses. For this reason, careless use of antipyretics or forced nutritional supplementation may actually delay recovery. In particular, it has been shown that the use of antipyretics during influenza infection increases the mortality rate.
New approaches to the treatment of metabolic diseases It has become clear that metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes are caused by mechanisms similar to the immune response during infection. This makes it possible to develop new therapies that target the immune system. In particular, the control of tissue-specific immune cells is important.
Relationship between exercise and infectious diseases Muscle weakness during infection has been found to be a deliberate control by the immune system. For this reason, forced exercise during infection may delay recovery. In fact, forced exercise in animals infected with influenza virus increases morbidity and mortality.
Suggestions for nutritional management Loss of appetite during infection is an adaptive response. For this reason, it is important to avoid forced nutritional support in the early stages of infection and to implement appropriate nutritional management according to the body's response. In particular, excessive intake of protein may reduce the survival rate during infection.
Application to medical care for the elderly Sarcopenia (muscle weakness) has been shown to worsen under the influence of inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, controlling chronic inflammation may be important for maintaining muscle strength in the elderly.
New perspectives on fever management Body temperature rise is an important adaptive response for optimizing immune cell function. Therefore, body temperature management during fever should not simply aim for fever reduction, but should be performed while considering the balance between the strength of the immune response and the overall condition of the body.
These findings have the potential to fundamentally rethink therapeutic approaches to infectious and metabolic diseases, and in particular, the development of therapeutic strategies that utilize the body's defense responses will be important.
Figure: Similarities between post-infectious disease metabolism and disease metabolism in the context of metabolic disease (x.com/Alzhacker)
While there is no autotranslate for images, We can see that half the figure is obese, and half the figure has a viral infection, blue squares at the top. In the yellow boxes we can see that inflammatory TNF, IL-1B, IL-6, other interleukins and interferons are matching - obesity is like the body is trying to fight an infection. Over strenuous exericise isn’t going to help, nor too much food or pain relievers, per the summary by Alzhacker.
Figure: Similarities between post-infectious disease metabolism and disease metabolism in the context of metabolic disease (x.com/Alzhacker).
Circulatory System
Kind of icky looking but, wow, our circulatory system is fabulous.
“Cardio” is a lot more than your heart (x.com/farbood)
Alongside all of those vessels would be vessels of the lymphatic system and Primo Vascular System.
“Artery” - no plaque. “Bodypositive Artery” - plaque - lack of vitamin K2 and magnesium and excess calcium than the body can handle without spackling it over with cholesterol bandaids.
Body Positivity may be an emotional aid, but it may not be the bandaid you want in your blood vessels. Meme via (x.com/fightwithmemes).
Having a positive mental attitude helps, but regular exercise helps too, and avoiding commercial vegetable oils. Best choices are extra virgin olive oil, organic coconut oil, or avocado oil.
“I’m not over-weight, I’m under tall.” A lesson in BMI - Body Mass Index
“All these lovely ladies weigh 154 pounds. We all carry weight differently,” (x.com/LibertyCappy)
“All these lovely ladies weigh 154 pounds. We all carry weight differently,” (x.com/LibertyCappy)
BMI is a ratio of weight to height. Muscle is denser than fat so it can look slimmer for a similar amount of pounds/kilograms. Taller means more bone mass, shorter means less, making a difference in how a person is carrying their weight - is it muscle, fat or bone?
Controversy in the replies to the photo included disbelief in the 154, thoughts were leaning towards heavier, women make up a weight. Dietitian perspective, its right. Weighing people and evaluating gain/loss, BMI, was part of my job in prenatal and postpartum counseling. The tall person on the right, is younger and would have a BMI near the slim end of normal for her height (not model skinny looking). The petite woman on the left might have a BMI bordering on moderately overweight. Muscle makes up a difference between the four in the middle, the two on the right are rounder looking, less fit, in comparison to the two on the left, all similar height and weight, would give a similar BMI number. From paper, that similar number wouldn’t let you know their was a difference in appearance suggesting level of fitness differed. Denser, broader bone structure can add to a heavier BMI while the person still looks fit.
Youth versus age changes how we store body fat and age adds a tendency to gain more fat and lose muscle. Work a bit more to maintain and shift a larger protein at dinner habit into even amounts, generous, at breakfast, lunch and dinner. (Keyword: sarcopenia)
“Walking around the grocery store upset, realizing that 90% of what’s sold isn’t even food. It’s toxins & chemicals masquerading as “food.” (x.com/GigaBasedDad)
If you can't feel good about it, then blaming something is the next best solution 😕 (to facing reality). Air pollution could be adding to obesity risk though by increasing inflammation, reducing exercise and sunshine, and maybe causing breathing difficulties from congestion or asthma. Air pollution isn’t really a joke. But blaming air pollution isn’t going to rescue you from its ill effects as well as a high quality respirator or moving would. *Move out of the LA region, neurotoxins will be in the air for a while and cause symptoms as severe or similar to what was seen after the Ohio train derailment. Brain fog/confusion, tiredness, skin rashes, seasonal allergy type of itchy eyes and drippy nose or asthma. Pomegranate peel might help, but leaving the area would help more.
News headline: “Air pollution is making women fat: study” 2022, (x.com/its_The_Dr)
Our food supply is largely controlled by ten companies, chart:
The Big Ten: MARS, Mondelez, Associated British Foods, plc, Kellogg’s, General Mills (G)?, Pepsico, Nestle, CocaCola, Unilever, Danone. (x.com/M1ch9el_/)
10 Companies Control Nearly Everything We Eat and Drink, and it’s Provable. (x.com/M1ch9el_/)
Bt corn leading to gut dysbiosis would add to risk of weight gain and bloating and discomfort…. It is designed to damage the gut of insects that eat it so much that the bug dies. It maybe damaging our gut microbiome too. Gut dysbiosis tends to add to obesity risk, unless colitis leads to underweight as another option.
Bacillus thuringiensis. Bt Gene is inserted into crop. Crop is infected by European corn borer. Pest dies when feeding on any plant part. Bt corn graphic via (x.com/CaryKelly11).
Bacillus thuringiensis. Bt gene is inserted into crop. Crop is infected by European corn borer. Pest dies when feeding on any plant part. (x.com/CaryKelly11)
Cary Kelly is an author of a carnivore style diet cookbook/book:
A keto approach, intermittently, may help with weight loss without appetite difficulty. But I am fond of omnivore diets for humans, an omnivore species. (x.com/CaryKelly11)
Caution against vitamin A excess leading to Retinoid Toxicity - liver is a very rich source, can rich toxic levels if consumed regularly. I do some liver based math in this post:
Friday night game on X premium - ask Grok What fictional character do I resemble the most?
With a little trepidition... I got:
Answer Based on your interests and the themes you engage with on X, you seem to resemble Dana Scully from "The X-Files." Like Scully, you appear to have a keen interest in uncovering truths behind seemingly inexplicable events, often questioning mainstream narratives and exploring unconventional theories. Scully is known for her logical, scientific approach to mysterious phenomena, which aligns with your posts about investigating hidden agendas and natural disasters. Additionally, your profile picture suggests a persona that is thoughtful and analytical, much like Scully's character.
“The truth is out there, but so are lies.” - FBI Special Agent Dana Scully, Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash
Disclaimer: This information is being provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use and is not intended to provide individual health care guidance.
Reference List
(Wensveen, Šestan, and Polić, 2024) Wensveen FM, Šestan M, Polić B. The immunology of sickness metabolism. Cell Mol Immunol. 2024 Sep;21(9):1051-1065. doi: 10.1038/s41423-024-01192-4. Epub 2024 Aug 6. PMID: 39107476; PMCID: PMC11364700.
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This is such a fun read with areas of a belly laugh inserted to keep the interest of the reader. Carry on! Good data and not boring.
I’m exactly 154 pounds as per the scales this morning so I could have been on the chart!