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Regular Fasting Good for the Heart

Med Headlines - Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) are in much better overall health than the rest of the general population. Their admirable health has long been attributed to the clean living habits associated with their religion.  A recent study in Utah has now identified the habit of monthly fasting to be the biggest contributor to the robust cardiovascular health most Mormons enjoy.

Mormons customarily fast on the first Sunday of every month. They also avoid consumption of tea, coffee, and alcohol. They don’t smoke, they do go to church, observe a day of rest each week, and they routinely donate time or money to charitable causes.

Each of these practices was analyzed and the most beneficial of all for heart health was found to be the abstinence from food one day per month.

Mormons who fast once a month are 40% less likely to be diagnosed with clogged arteries than people who do not fast regularly. The presence of heart disease is determined by x-ray exams revealing arterial blockage of 70% or more.

Researchers speculate the Mormons habit of routine fasting may contribute to better diet and lifestyle choices in general and that more research is desirable.

Benjamin Homes, from the Intermountain Medical Center and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, led the study and reported his findings during a conference recently held by the American Heart Association. The study was funded in part by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

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