Historic references suggest that more than 2,500 years ago, intermittent “starvation” was used in ancient Egypt, India, and Greece to strengthen the body, and increase lifespan. Numerous written sources of different civilizations around the world, regardless of religion or territory, mention fasting, and its numerous benefits.

A study from Harvard University has shown that intermittent fasting and manipulating mitochondrial networks may increase lifespan.

“Although previous work has shown how intermittent fasting can slow aging, we are only beginning to understand the underlying biology.”

As noted by researchers a study has shown that by manipulating mitochondrial networks inside cells — either by dietary restriction or by genetic manipulation that mimics it — may increase lifespan and help promote health.

Previous studies in rodents and humans have suggested that periodic fasting can reduce body fat, cut insulin levels, and provide other benefits.

Intermittent fasting remained popular thousands of years ago and spread across different parts of the planet. In the Middle Ages, intermittent fasting remained extremely popular as people continued reaping its benefits.

However, even before the ancient Egyptians, Greek and Hindu, due to food scarcity our ancestors, hunter-gatherers, practiced intermittent fasting. Before agriculture, people ate what they could hunt when they returned home empty-handed, and wild berries were nowhere to be found, periods of starvation took place, and this greatly strengthened hunter-gatherers.

This practice also played a key role in nearly all the world’s major religions since its associated with penitence and other forms of self-control.

If we take a look at the history of different religions and their connection with intermittent fasting, we find how Judaism has several annual fast days including Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonements; in Islam, Muslims fast during the holy month of Ramadan, while Roman Catholics and Eastern orthodoxy observe a 40 day fast during Lent, the period when Christ fasted 40 days in the desert.

According to the researchers, dietary restriction and intermittent fasting have shown in the past to be able to help health during the years of old age, so understanding why this phenomenon occurs is a crucial step towards the therapeutic use of its benefits.

“Our work shows how crucial is the plasticity of the mitochondria for the benefits of fasting,” they explained but emphasized that it is necessary to investigate more deeply this complex biological process to reach definitive conclusions.

Source: https://ancient-code.com/intermittent-fasting-is-as-old-as-mankind-and-its-the-key-to-longevity/