Scientists at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Utah have reported that routine periodic fasting could offer health benefits and lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes . The new study assessed reactions by biological mechanisms in the body over the course of the fasting period, finding that fasting reduces the chances of coronary artery disease and diabetes, as well as bringing substantial improvements in levels of blood cholesterol .
The research also revealed that fasting could lower other cardiac risk factors, including triglycerides, blood sugar levels and increased weight .
Benjamin D. Horne, the principal researcher on the project, commented “The confirmation among a new set of patients that fasting is associated with lower risk of these common diseases raises new questions about how fasting itself reduces risk or if it simply indicates a healthy lifestyle .”
He added “Fasting causes hunger or stress. In response, the body releases more cholesterol, allowing it to utilize fat as a source of fuel, instead of glucose . This decreases the number of fat cells in the body.”
The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (good cholesterol) were both seen to increase, by 14 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively, helping to lower the incidence of type 2 diabetes .

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