What we talk about when we talk about fasting

The conclusion from a trio of papers about the effect of calorie restriction on the immune system: Researchers need more specific ways to discuss fasting. The three studies, which looked at the impact of such diets on a type of white blood cell, memory T cells, and the gut immune response, found sometimes conflicting results, but they also tested different kinds of calorie restriction. That led two experts, writing in a preview of the research, to highlight “the need to replace terms like fasting, or intermittent fasting, with those that describe the type and length of the fasting method. … Without these more precise definitions, it will be difficult to generate sufficient data to enhance our understanding of the biology of fasting responses and begin to translate this knowledge into randomized clinical trials.”