How fasting bring health benefits?

According to researchers from the Heart Institute of Intermountain Medical Center, in Utah, United States, fasting not only reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes but also causes significant positive changes in a person's cholesterol levels. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology, held in New Orleans, USA.

In 2007, a study conducted with Mormons, whose religious teachings include fasting for 24 hours on the first Sunday of each month, found that these people had a 39% lower risk of coronary artery disease, a leading cause of death. both men and women, who did not fast. Now, the same team of scientists who conducted that research has confirmed the benefits with two studies of the effects of fasting on more than 200 individuals, both Intermountain Center patients and healthy volunteers.

Some of the participants had to fast - drinking only water - for a period of 24 hours and then eat a normal diet for the next 24 hours. During that period, the researchers followed a registry of the volunteers that included blood tests and physical measurements to assess cardiac risk factors, metabolic risk markers, and other parameters of general health.

The results showed that during the fasting period the levels of both the so-called bad cholesterol (LDL) and the good cholesterol (HDL) increased by 14% and 6% respectively, increasing the total cholesterol level. "Fasting causes hunger and stress. In response, the body releases more cholesterol, allowing it to use fat as an energy source, rather than glucose," explains Benjamin Horne, co-author of the research. This, in turn, decreases the number of adipocytes (fat cells) in the body. "This is important because the fewer fat cells the body has, the less likelihood of hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, or diabetes," adds the researcher.

Mormon Health

According to Dr. Horne, a tobacco ban among Mormons is often cited as responsible for their good health. But the scientist decided to analyze whether Mormons' 24-hour monthly fast could be contributing to those cardiovascular benefits. The 2007 study, carried out with more than 4,500 individuals -90% of whom were Mormons- in addition to the prohibition of tobacco, alcohol and caffeine, took into account the observation of a weekly day of rest, attendance at ceremonies religious and donation to charities, all of which are recognized as factors that can have a cardiovascular impact. The study found that, although most of the participants were Mormons, the benefits of fasting were general, even in those who practiced other religions. And new research, conducted in the general population, confirms that finding.

Dr. Horne, however, stresses that while these results are surprising, they should not be interpreted as a green light for people to start fasting regularly. While confirming this finding, the expert affirms that the best recommendation to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases is to exercise, eat healthily, reduce alcohol consumption, and avoid tobacco.