Intermittent fasting can affect insulin sensitivity. And a new eating style has developed around this idea. Skip breakfast and enjoy big meals late in the day instead of what Martin Berkhan (fitness trainer with attitude bigger than his muscles - be warned) called kindergarten meals 6 times a day. [more inside]
posted by Listener on Dec 9, 2011 - 86 comments

Could you last 46 days on dopplebocks alone? One man is about to find out -- in the spirit of European monks centuries ago, he's giving up food during Lent. "For the next 46 days, under the supervision of a doctor and spiritual advisor, Wilson will drink only Illuminator and blog about the journey."
posted by naju on Mar 9, 2011 - 70 comments

This year 45 Jains have already embraced Santhara.
Voluntary death by starvation also know as Sallekhana.
Fasting is very common in Jain spirituality. It's not suicide,”... “You have to understand that for us death is full of excitement.” Jain's produce some of the most beautiful stone carved temple art in the world.
posted by adamvasco on Jul 1, 2010 - 59 comments

As the global climate changes, agriculture is sure to be affected. The Stern Review explains that "developing countries - in particular the poorest - are heavily dependent on agriculture, the most climate-sensitive of all economic sectors." Working Group II of the IPCC says that: "Smallholder and subsistence farmers, pastoralists and artisanal fisherfolk will suffer complex, localised impacts of climate change (high confidence)." Meanwhile, some important staple crops are especially threatened by rising temperatures (though genetic engineering may help). You can experience a taste of it yourself, with a climate change awareness fast, taking place on Tuesday, September 4th.
posted by sindark on Aug 30, 2007 - 14 comments

A Happy Maha Shivratri to you all!
posted by hadjiboy on Feb 16, 2007 - 11 comments

Fountains of Youth and Health : periodic, therapeutic fasting and caloric restriction. Ben Franklin wrote of this, and most religions advocate periodic fasting. In the "Fasting Worm Study", earthworms became nearly immortal. Recent research underscores the health benefits, which do not require overall caloric restriction (a "fast and gorge" cycle works too) for humans. Fasting shows promise for the treatment of most addictions, Cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, Gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, Uterine fibroid tumors, Back and neck problems, high blood pressure, arthritis and joint pain, depression, perhaps Huntington's Disease... Here's a clinic which specializes in medically supervised water only fasts and offers recent studies and writings on the subject (PDF, .doc, and .htm format). Fasting seems to be very good for your brain overall. Meanwhile, inside : the benefits of caloric restriction, which seems to dramatically slow many age-related diseases.
posted by troutfishing on Jul 19, 2004 - 57 comments

"Doctors and experts are baffled by an Indian hermit who claims not to have eaten or drunk anything for several decades - but is still in perfect health."
posted by The God Complex on Nov 25, 2003 - 45 comments

Fast for George W. Bush. "If you are willing to fast at least one day a month primarily for George W. Bush's holiness (and other areas, such as bipartisan work among the Democrats and Republicans, Wisdom in his work, wisdom for his cabinet, healing for our nation, etc. ... but primarily holiness) then we encourage you to sign up and join us [...] Our goal is to have 1,000 people fasting for the President each day. That will greatly encourage him and keep him accountable when the Evil One seeks to sidetrack him from his commitment to the Lord. "
posted by XQUZYPHYR on Feb 24, 2003 - 92 comments

Getting ready to fast this weekend. We go on vacations from work to relax, recharge, and to gain new perspectives on our life; why not take occasional breaks from food? I do this about every two years and it always seems to "reset" my body and more importantly my mind. Anyone else have fasting experience?
posted by jeremias on May 16, 2002 - 46 comments

Pope asked Catholics to fast for Ramadan. Doesn't the Pope at least see the irony that the ruler of Vatican City, a moralistic theocracy, is trying to spiritually help the victims of another moralistic theocracy?
posted by skallas on Dec 15, 2001 - 39 comments

Fasting for Dubya. And y'all thought the bit about the Britney Spears novel was scarifying? Whoa.
posted by raysmj on Mar 15, 2001 - 40 comments