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Re:Brain may flush out toxins during sleep (2015) by SmallBets on Sunday July 24, 2016 @03:03PM (#12154335)
Thanks for this. Tldr is sleeping on your side may be best for toxin draining.
Re:Brain may flush out toxins during sleep (2015) by pygy_ on Sunday July 24, 2016 @04:55PM (#12154854)
It sure is if you're a mouse.

There's no human data at this point.

Re:Brain may flush out toxins during sleep (2015) by dionidium on Sunday July 24, 2016 @06:16PM (#12155163)
I don't see the word "toxin" anywhere on that page.
Re:Brain may flush out toxins during sleep (2015) by emptybits on Sunday July 24, 2016 @09:09PM (#12155851)
You're right. I guess the connection being reached for is "lymphatic transport" (title of paper) -> "waste transport" (synonymous) -> "toxin removal" (a very specific type of waste transport?)
Re:Brain may flush out toxins during sleep (2015) by James001 on Sunday July 24, 2016 @11:57PM (#12156378)
The lymphatic system is specifically for removing toxins, so naturally it's function is implied
Re:Brain may flush out toxins during sleep (2015) by Udik on Monday July 25, 2016 @07:42AM (#12157958)
No, a toxin is a poison, usually produced for predation or defense. As Wikipedia correctly notes,

In the context of quack and alternative medicine the term "toxin" is used to refer to any substance supposed to cause ill health.

What the body produces and might need to eliminate is metabolic byproduct or waste, nothing to do with "toxins". The term used in this context makes me cringe.

Re:Brain may flush out toxins during sleep (2015) by James001 on Monday July 25, 2016 @10:58AM (#12159112)
what...? Do you not know any biology at all? Of course the lymphatic system is meant to eliminate toxins... Jeez, take some bio 101 before posting, you sound like a quack
Re:Brain may flush out toxins during sleep (2015) by Nadya on Monday July 25, 2016 @11:06AM (#12159157)
They are taking issue with the term "toxin" - not the functionality of the lymphatic system. Their comment explicitly said `metabolic byproduct or waste, nothing to do with "toxins"`.
Re:Brain may flush out toxins during sleep (2015) by James001 on Monday July 25, 2016 @12:19PM (#12159678)
But of course it the lymphatic system eliminates toxins too. I mean, obviously this is all getting into semantics, but the lymphatic system helps to eliminate more than just metabolic products and waste, it will also help eliminate dead bacteria, heavy metals, etc, which could certainly be called toxins
Re:Brain may flush out toxins during sleep (2015) by kev009 on Sunday July 24, 2016 @09:16PM (#12155881)
Side sleeping has positive effects on airway maintenance, may help get in and stay in the deeper phases for some people with obstructive apnea.