Fasting and Heart health

Do you ever fast? A study out of Utah says it may be good for your heart.

The researchers interviewed 200 patients who were undergoing angiograms, and they were asked if they engaged in regular fasting. Most of the patients were Mormons, a faith that encourages its members to fast for one day a month.

The researchers found that people who fasted regularly had a 58 percent lower risk of coronary disease compared with those who didn’t.

It’s possible that fasting may not have a direct effect but might just be more common among people who are healthier to begin with. Devout Mormons, for instance, abstain from alcohol, smoking and caffeine.

But the researchers say the findings are important because they affirm the results of an earlier, larger study published in 2008 that found a similar association between fasting and heart disease.