Fasting, Mormons and Life Expectancy

Is Fasting a Key to Longevity?

Mormons have great life expectancy, better than any other group in the U.S. A lot of the reason for this is that the Mormon religion specifically forbids smoking. While 20+ percent of U.S. adults still smoke, the rate for Mormons is much lower. This explains some of the increased life expectancy seen in Mormon communities, but not all of it.

Another practice of Mormons that may increase life expectancy is fasting. Many Mormons undergo a fast one day a month as part of their religious practice (they do not eat food on the first Sunday of each month). Research shows that people who do this once a month are 40% less likely to have clogged arteries.

Why Does Fasting Lead to Healthy Arteries?

No one knows. There are a couple of theories that have popped up to explain this link between fasting and clean arteries

• It could be that people who can fast are generally more in control of their eating habits. After all, if you have the discipline to go a whole day without food, it doesn’t seem so hard to say “no” to desserts.
• People who do the fasting practice generally are healthier and take better care of themselves.
• Fasting forces the body to dip into fat reserves.
• Fasting gives the body a break from exposure to sugar, allowing cells to “resensitize” to sugar (helping to regulate insulin).
• Fasting resets the metabolic rate.

In the study, 515 people were surveyed about their fasting, smoking, tea and coffee habits. Only fasting made a difference in heart risk (after controlling for smoking). Fifty-nine percent of the fasters were diagnosed with heart disease compared to 67% of the non-fasters (after age, weight, and other health conditions were taken into account). Non-Mormons who fasted showed the same benefits as the Mormon fasters.

The researchers cautioned that diabetics should not fast, as it could cause dangerous swings in blood sugar. They also reminded people that fasting and dieting for weight loss do not mix (the metabolism could slow down and go into “storage” mode when the person starts eating again).

_Source(s):

McClure BS, May HT, Muhlestein JB, et al. Fasting may reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. American Heart Association 2007 Scientific Sessions; November 6, 2007; Orlando, FL. Abstract 3642.