MetaFilter posts tagged with fasting

Fasting in response to climate change

sindark — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:15:44 -0800

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.

OM

hadjiboy — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 06:02:45 -0800

A Happy Maha Shivratri to you all!

Just Don't, sing the ageless worms

troutfishing — Mon, 19 Jul 2004 10:50:06 -0800

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.

Fox proposes Ally McBeal spin-off.

The God Complex — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 23:28:31 -0800

"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."

Does vomiting count as fasting? Then sign me up for this one!

XQUZYPHYR — Mon, 24 Feb 2003 22:08:46 -0800

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. "

jeremias — Thu, 16 May 2002 11:52:23 -0800

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?

skallas — Sat, 15 Dec 2001 05:22:40 -0800

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?

raysmj — Thu, 15 Mar 2001 11:19:23 -0800

Fasting for Dubya. And y'all thought the bit about the Britney Spears novel was scarifying? Whoa.