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It is interesting to consider that periodic fasts and/or abstaining from certain foods for a time (such as Lent during the Orthodox calendar), seen in many reli
by patrickgzill 14y ago
It is interesting to consider that periodic fasts and/or abstaining from certain foods for a time (such as Lent during the Orthodox calendar), seen in many religions, might have a health benefit by suppressing certain gut bacteria, or at least managing gut flora.
- MichaelGG 14y agoIs it actually interesting? Even the rules were chosen randomly, you'd expect any large body of rules to get something by sheer chance alone.
- krenoten 14y agoIt might better be viewed as a behavioral "mutation" of sorts that improved the viability of those who adopted the practice. There are many interesting things that happen by chance.
- AutoKorrect 14y agoyes, it is interesting. Consider that vitamin C was known to prevent scurvy, but then that knowledge was lost, and rediscovered later on. How much knowledge may be codified in ancient customs, and that we might have forgotten the foundations for that knowledge.
- scott_s 14y agoVitamin C was not known to prevent scurvy. Citrus fruits, which contain vitamin C, were known to prevent scurvy, but no one knew why. They had theories, but the theories were wrong.
- justincormack 14y agoAmerican obesity is a recent thing that does not eg seem to be related to stopping fasts.