Fasting has been practiced by many different cultures for religious reasons for thousands of years. Islam, Judaism, Mormons, and Christian religions still tend to fast on a regular basis. Lately though there has been somewhat of a “fasting trend”, and not for religious reasons. Most people who now choose to fast do it to lose weight or rid their body of toxins. But how good is it for you?

A study conduced by the University of Utah reveals that fasting may be excellent for your heart. Those studied who did not eat for one day out of the month were up to 40% less likely to have clogged arteries than those who ate normally. Mormons, who fast religiously on the first day of each month, have also been shown to have lower rates of heart disease. Fasting may also speed up the process of the body healing itself. During a fast the energy is diverted away from the digestive system since there is no food to be broken down. Instead the body focuses on healing itself. This is one of the reasons that wounded animals stop eating or why humans usually lose their appetite with certain illnesses. Lastly fasting has been scientifically proven to rejuvenate one’s body and mind and also increase life expectancy. A slower metabolic rate, better digestion, efficient protein production, a heightened immune system, an ability to overcome addictions, and an increased production of hormones are all beneficial side effects to fasting.

Although there seems to be an endless list of advantages to skipping meals on a regular basis there are some things to be wary of. Weakness, low blood pressure, and depletion of certain minerals in the body may occur. By making sure to plenty of water and fruit juice most people should have no problem fasting for a day or so a month. If skipping food altogether is too much to ask, try a gentle cleanse for many of the same benefits.