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That's pretty interesting. Are there any guesses as to why body temperature is declining?

edejong 5y ago
Here is my hypothesis. Our body temperature is expensive and evolutionary not 'stable'. In the past, it would make sense that in environments with lower bacterial threats, the group would select for lower body temperature in order to preserve energy. In order to do that, individuals with too low a body temperature would be removed from the group due to infections. This would create a balanced system between body temperature (energy expenditure) and bacterial immunity. With the development of antibiotics, this changed. The previous bottom of the group is not culled anymore, removing the barrier of the imbalance. Therefore, the group is 'safely' selecting for lower body temperatures.
- bdamm 5y ago
  And so a new pathogen is emerging to fulfill the void once dominated by bacterial infections. Makes sense..
Enginerrrd 5y ago
My money is on the same endocrine disupters that are lowering testosterone levels, lowering sperm counts, and likely increasing obesity issues.
- astrange 5y ago
  > My money is on the same endocrine disupters that are lowering testosterone levels, lowering sperm counts The studies that found this also found that 1. sperm counts stopped and went back up again 2. men with lower testosterone have more children.
Dotnaught 5y ago
It was a Radio Lab (Fungus Amungus): https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/fungus-amungus https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/fungu... The theory is that in wealthy countries with good public health, there's less need to maintain a high body temperature to fend off threats. The show said that human body temperature "has been steadily declining for decades at a rate of, like, .05 degrees Fahrenheit per decade." (though not in less developed countries)...average is said to be more like 97.5 degrees.
kk58 5y ago
Interestingly in Ayurveda this is called kapha dominant body and it occurs when eats a food heavy in kapha heavy foods like sweets, dairy, cheese So it's possible this reduction reflects a change in our diets
- astrange 5y ago
  Why are sweets and cheese in the same category? Cheese is closer to meat nutritionally.
happyconcepts 5y ago
We are all being slowly hibernated?

Here is my hypothesis. Our body temperature is expensive and evolutionary not 'stable'. In the past, it would make sense that in environments with lower bacterial threats, the group would select for lower body temperature in order to preserve energy. In order to do that, individuals with too low a body temperature would be removed from the group due to infections. This would create a balanced system between body temperature (energy expenditure) and bacterial immunity. With the development of antibiotics, this changed. The previous bottom of the group is not culled anymore, removing the barrier of the imbalance. Therefore, the group is 'safely' selecting for lower body temperatures.

bdamm 5y ago
And so a new pathogen is emerging to fulfill the void once dominated by bacterial infections. Makes sense..

Enginerrrd 5y ago

My money is on the same endocrine disupters that are lowering testosterone levels, lowering sperm counts, and likely increasing obesity issues.

astrange 5y ago
> My money is on the same endocrine disupters that are lowering testosterone levels, lowering sperm counts The studies that found this also found that 1. sperm counts stopped and went back up again 2. men with lower testosterone have more children.

Dotnaught 5y ago

It was a Radio Lab (Fungus Amungus): https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/fungus-amungus https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/fungu... The theory is that in wealthy countries with good public health, there's less need to maintain a high body temperature to fend off threats. The show said that human body temperature "has been steadily declining for decades at a rate of, like, .05 degrees Fahrenheit per decade." (though not in less developed countries)...average is said to be more like 97.5 degrees.

kk58 5y ago

Interestingly in Ayurveda this is called kapha dominant body and it occurs when eats a food heavy in kapha heavy foods like sweets, dairy, cheese So it's possible this reduction reflects a change in our diets

astrange 5y ago
Why are sweets and cheese in the same category? Cheese is closer to meat nutritionally.

happyconcepts 5y ago

We are all being slowly hibernated?