Recent research has shown that planned occasional short periods of not eating are beneficial to your health. This does not mean missing breakfast, and then eating a lot later in the day. It is a brief period of time without food and then resumption of normal eating.
Planned periods without consumption of food are technically fasting. Fasting is often part of religious observances and can last various periods of time. It is not the common habit of many people trying to lose weight of skipping breakfast, but then "compensating" by consuming a large quantity of calories in the evening is known to be unhealthy.
Research has shown that occasional fasts can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. For instance, studies of members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) demonstrated that those who fasted once a month had lower rates of heart disease than either other church members who did not fast, or non members.
Our prehistoric ancestors would have had periods of time when they did not eat. There would not have been a constant supply of food, and some of the time there would have been nothing to eat. The result of this is likely to be, that our bodies are adapted for short periods of time when no food was consumed.
One characteristic of prediabetes, and metabolic syndrome, is that the level of glucose in the blood is increased. The body starts to adapt to the continued increased level of glucose and the body tissues become less sensitive to insulin (insulin resistance). High levels of glucose in the blood are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, mainly due to an increased rate of atherosclerosis (blocking of arteries).
Why should a short fast be of benefit?
One possible explanation is that a period of time when the body receives no nutrients allows it to reset. When food has not been recently consumed, the level of glucose drops in the blood. The mechanisms of glucose sensing and insulin production could then become more sensitive and return to a more responsive level. The result of this would be that the body responds more efficiently to glucose and becomes more sensitive to insulin. These lowered levels of glucose may mean less risk of cardiovascular disease.
It should be noted that skipping meals is currently NOT recommended for diabetics. Occasional brief fasts may be beneficial to those with prediabetes and metabolic syndrome who are starting to have inappropriate regulation of glucose and insulin.
How long and how often should one consider not eating? The LDS members miss two meals, once a month. Probably a fast should be occasional and not longer than a day and should include drinks with no calories, such as water and tea.
Judith Airey PhD. is a biomedical researcher with a range of interests including all things cardiovascular. She has several health-related websites including a blood pressure information site http://www.infobloodpressure.com/ and a blog http://www.lifeagingand.com/
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