Immune Function

Articles tagged with "Immune Function".

Kefir Plus Fiber Beat Omega-3 for Inflammation in New Trial

Tags: Immune Function, Nutrition, Evidence-Based Medicine

February 19, 2026

Can Fermented Foods and Fiber Really Fight Inflammation?

Yes. A six-week randomized trial found that combining fermented kefir with prebiotic fiber reduced more inflammation markers than omega-3 supplements or fiber alone. The synbiotic group, those taking both kefir and fiber together, showed the broadest and strongest drops in key proteins tied to chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is a quiet driver of many serious health problems. It plays a role in heart disease, diabetes, and even certain cancers. Most people cannot feel it happening, but it shows up in blood tests as elevated proteins like IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Researchers at the University of Nottingham wanted to know which common dietary supplements do the best job of lowering these markers. They compared three options: omega-3 fatty acids, inulin fiber, and a synbiotic combination of fermented kefir with a diverse prebiotic fiber mix. The results suggest that the simplest kitchen staples may pack the most anti-inflammatory punch.

Time-Restricted Feeding Cuts Crohn's Disease Activity in New Trial

Tags: Immune Function, Drug Therapy, Evidence-Based Medicine

February 16, 2026

Can Time-Restricted Eating Help Manage Crohn’s Disease?

Yes. The first randomized controlled trial of time-restricted feeding in Crohn’s disease found that eating within an 8-hour window for 12 weeks reduced disease activity by 40% and cut abdominal discomfort in half. Participants also lost weight, reduced visceral fat, and showed lower inflammation markers, all without changing what they ate.

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes pain, cramping, and digestive problems. Most treatments involve powerful drugs that suppress the immune system. But this new trial, published in the journal Gastroenterology, suggests something much simpler could help: just changing when you eat, not what you eat. Researchers at the University of British Columbia tested whether limiting meals to an 8-hour window each day could calm the gut inflammation that drives Crohn’s symptoms.

Time-Restricted Feeding Cuts Crohn's Disease Activity 40%

Tags: Immune Function, Evidence-Based Medicine

February 14, 2026

Can Meal Timing Help Control Crohn’s Disease?

Yes. A randomized controlled trial published in Gastroenterology found that eating within an 8-hour daily window reduced Crohn’s disease activity by 40% over 12 weeks. Participants also lost weight and showed lower blood markers of inflammation compared to a control group on a normal eating schedule.

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes pain, cramping, and digestive problems. Most treatments focus on medication. But this study asked a different question: could simply changing when you eat make a difference?

Hypoxia and Inflammation: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Tags: Immune Function, Evidence-Based Medicine

January 20, 2026

Are Hypoxia and Inflammation Really Connected?

Yes. This PNAS commentary explains that hypoxia (low oxygen) and inflammation are deeply linked in a two-way relationship. When tissues lack oxygen, they become inflamed. When tissues become inflamed, they often become oxygen-deprived. Understanding this connection opens doors to new treatments.

Scientists have discovered that the same proteins controlling your body’s response to low oxygen also control inflammation. This means drugs that target oxygen-sensing pathways could help treat inflammatory diseases. A recent clinical trial has already shown these compounds can be used safely in patients.

Hypoxia and Inflammation

Tags: Immune Function, Evidence-Based Medicine

January 20, 2026

Does Low Oxygen Cause Inflammation in the Body?

Yes. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that hypoxia (low oxygen levels) triggers inflammation throughout the body. This connection works both ways: low oxygen causes inflammation, and inflammation makes tissues even more oxygen-deprived.

When your body doesn’t get enough oxygen, it activates a protein called HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor). This protein turns on genes that help you survive low oxygen. But it also turns on genes that cause inflammation. Scientists have found this pattern in conditions from mountain sickness to organ transplants.

Sleep and Cognition

Tags: Cardiovascular Health, Immune Function, Cold Therapy, Drug Therapy

January 16, 2026

Does Cold Exposure Hurt Your Thinking Ability?

Yes. This systematic review of 18 studies found that cold exposure impairs thinking ability in 15 out of 18 studies. The impairment happens even before dangerous hypothermia sets in, affecting attention, memory, processing speed, and decision-making.

Researchers from Italy and Austria searched three major medical databases. They included only studies that tested healthy adults in controlled cold environments. They excluded studies where other factors like exercise, noise, or high altitude might confuse the results.

Systematic Reviews, Evidence Maps, and Big-picture Overviews

Tags: Mental Health, Neurology, Immune Function, Cold Therapy

January 16, 2026

Does Cold Water Immersion Actually Improve Health and Wellbeing?

Yes, but the effects depend on timing and what you’re measuring. This 2025 meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials (3,177 participants) found cold water immersion significantly reduces stress at 12 hours, improves sleep quality, and reduces sick days by 29%. However, it also triggers short-term inflammation and shows no immediate stress relief.

Cold water immersion has exploded in popularity. Amazon ice bath sales jumped from less than 1,000 units in November 2022 to over 90,000 units just 12 months later. But does the science support the hype? This comprehensive review examined what actually happens when healthy adults take cold showers or ice baths.