[thethrows]

True, we need to be able to reproduce and confirm technically that fasting correctly is good for people. But you cannot simply ignore millenia of anecdotal evidence that people who fast simply are more healthier. I find it odd that it's now considered normal to stuff yourself all the time, when historically before maybe a century ago it was considered totally normal to not eat all the time(involuntarily or otherwise).

[solarmist]

What millennia of anecdotal evidence? I've heard claims like that before, but never seen the source of any of these claims. Really? In the past it was common not to eat, voluntarily? That seems hard to believe with how central food is to every culture I've ever been exposed to. In fact you are seen as odd if you choose NOT to partake when others are.

If this is common knowledge to you it is certainly not for me, which is why I do want to see the results of studies like this that have been replicated.

My entire historical perspective on fasting is from religious/spiritual perspective which don't mention anything about health benefits.

[wtbob]

> In the past it was common not to eat, voluntarily?

Pretty much every religion of which I'm aware has the concept of fasting, and on every culture people terms to make an attempt to follow their religion's strictures (c.f. all the folds you see running at the gym).

Sure, as you more religions don't tend to mention the physical health benefits, but they certainly believe in the psychological health benefits. Regardless of whether they believe in them or not, such regimens will affect their participants' health for good or for ill.

[cLeEOGPw]

I am not sure what OP had in mind about fasting, but I recall studies done on lab mouse related to this subject. Studies were about increasing average life expectancy. The results were that the only meaningful increase of life span was gained by limiting food ration. I don't think it was fasting, but amount of food consumed does seem to have significant effect. They claimed life expectancy increased up to 30%.

[pan69]

Aren't humans hunter-gathers and not having food for some periods of time has become part of who we are?

To me vasting makes total sense, whether it's religious, spiritual or otherwise.

[hk__2]

A lot of things were normal a century ago while being completely unhealthy. Bloodletting has been a common practice for millenia until ~150 years ago, even if it was an useless and even dangerous practice.

[rgbrenner]

anecdotal evidence that people who fast simply are more healthier.

If they are healthier, are they healthier because of fasting or simply from reduced caloric intake? Would someone who ate less (smaller meals, etc) be healthier than someone who fasts?

[SwellJoe]

In caloric reduction research, there is indication that fasting can be similarly effective to caloric reduction, and may be easier to achieve for many people than a sustained calorie reduction (the amount of calorie reduction thought to be required for effectiveness is thought to be quite challenging to live with longterm...leading to feeling hungry pretty much all the time). Feeling really hungry one day a week may be easier than feeling a little hungry 24/7 every day for the rest of your life.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I think there are still plenty of questions unanswered about this issue. But, I've seen enough evidence, from disparate enough peer-reviewed sources, to think fasting is worth integrating into my life.