Skipping Breakfast Weakens Immune System, Says Mount Sinai Study.

A study by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that fasting, even for a short period, could negatively affect the immune system and increase the risk of heart disease. The study, which used mouse models, showed that skipping meals triggers a response in the brain that negatively affects immune cells, specifically monocytes. These cells travel through the body and play critical roles in fighting infections, heart disease, and cancer. Fasting causes monocytes to travel back to the bone marrow to hibernate, and production of new cells in the bone marrow diminishes. When food is reintroduced, the cells surge back into the bloodstream, leading to a heightened level of inflammation, making the body less resistant to fighting infection.