Researchers at the Intermountain Medical Centre’s Heart Institute in Utah have undertaken a new study looking at the impact of regular fasting on the risks of developing diabetes and heart disease. They have suggested that fasting can be beneficial. Utah is unique because of its sizeable Mormon population, making this an ideal setting for the study – Mormons customarily fast at least once a month, and this seems to be producing concrete health benefits over long periods.
There has been a reduction in the number of people smoking in most US states, which has led to lower rates of cardiac mortality, but the rate in Utah is noticeably lower still.
The study’s conclusions are simple. When people fast, their bodies are forced to burn fat as a source of energy, which lowers the total number of fat cells present. That means cholesterol levels are reduced, and insulin sensitivity is increased (meaning a lower risk of diabetes).
The foundations for this study were laid in 2007, when researchers found that fasting could lower the risk of heart disease. They now claim to have provided evidence that fasting can have a beneficial impact on body weight as well as blood sugar and triglyceride levels. The health benefits of fasting remain under-researched, and doctors are eager to investigate further. In particular, they are interested in establishing whether fasting might be beneficial for people already suffering from heart disease or diabetes.
Notwithstanding the optimistic messages about fasting that have come out of this research, it’s critical to be conscious of the fact that fasting comes with its own risks – it can actually be unsafe in many circumstances. If you want to safeguard your health in later life, there are plenty of other, better-researched steps you can take. If you are thinking about fasting at all, it’s imperative that you discuss this with your doctor before proceeding.
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diabetes, Diet, Diets, Health, heart disease, lifestyle, Wellbeing