Fasting: healthy or a strain on the body?

Fasting periodically comes back into fashion, particularly in the first half of the year. But it is far from a modern invention. For centuries, people have abstained from eating and drinking until after sunset during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. Christian fasting, which is generally less strictly observed, spans the seven weeks from Ash Wednesday until Easter. “Nowadays, fasting is less about the spiritual experience and more focused on the idea of detoxing and cleansing,” says Professor David Fäh, a nutritionist and specialist in preventive medicine.