Fasting has real and proven health benefits. I have heard physicians state that it is the single most benficial thing you can do for your health. From Wikipedia

Fasting has real and proven health benefits. I have heard physicians state that it is the single most benficial thing you can do for your health. From Wikipedia: Research suggests there are major health benefits to caloric restriction. Benefits include reduced risks of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, insulin resistance, immune disorders, and more generally, the slowing of the aging process, and the potential to increase maximum life span.[3] According to Dr. Mark P. Mattson, chief of the laboratory of neurosciences at the US National Institute on Aging, fasting every other day (intermittent fasting) shows beneficial effects in mice as strong as those of caloric-restriction diets,[4] and a small study conducted on humans at the University of Illinois indicates the same results [5] According to the US National Academy of Sciences, other health benefits include stress resistance, increased insulin sensitivity, reduced morbidity, and increased life span. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting#Health_effects http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting#Health_effects