Fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food, drink, or both, practiced for medical, religious, ritual, or ethical reasons. This abstinence may be total or partial, short or long-term, continuous or intermittent. Throughout history, fasting has been promoted and practiced by both the founders and followers of major religious traditions, as well as by individuals involved in initiation rituals or by individuals who have used it as a form of protest in support of moral, social, or political principles.
Fasting is an extremely ancient practice, comparable in origin to the very history of humanity. There is no historical period in which food abstinence has not been used for various purposes. References to fasting appear in almost all cultures and written traditions, which suggests that this practice has been considered useful and valuable throughout the centuries. In times of suffering or crisis, fasting was recommended by both doctors and philosophers or religious leaders. In ancient Egypt, India and Greece, it was used both for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, as well as for the cultivation of inner discipline.
The Greek historian Herodotus (484–425 BC) mentioned that the Egyptians enjoyed superior health to other peoples because they periodically practiced purification rituals, believing that numerous diseases originated in diet.
There is evidence of the use of dietary abstinence for therapeutic purposes in ancient India, Tibet, and China. In the Tibetan medical tradition, the author Tso-Zhed-Shonnu (4th century BC) mentioned fasting as a method of treatment for certain ailments.
The Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras (580–500 BC), founder of the Pythagorean school, practiced regular periods of fasting, sometimes for up to forty days, believing that this increased mental clarity and creative capacity. He and his disciples adopted a frugal lifestyle, based largely on a vegetarian diet.
Plato (427–347 BC), a disciple of Socrates, distinguished between "true" medicines, which produce a genuine state of health, and "false" medicines, which only create the appearance of one. In addition to fasting, he recommended fresh air and exposure to the sun.
Hippocrates (460–370 BC), considered the father of medicine, promoted moderation and believed that temporarily reducing or suspending food intake could be a useful therapeutic tool. He argued that the body has the ability to rebalance itself when not overloaded with digestion.
The physician Asclepiades (1st century BC) integrated fasting into a therapeutic package that included baths, massage, and physical exercise.
The historian and moralist Plutarch (45–127 AD) recommended moderation and stated that, in certain situations, a day of fasting can be more beneficial than taking medication.
The idea that controlled food abstinence can have beneficial effects on health continued to be present in the Middle Ages, and during the Renaissance it experienced a new revitalization.
A famous example is that of the Venetian aristocrat Luigi (Ludovico) Cornaro (1465–1566). After years of overeating, he became seriously ill at the age of 40. On the advice of his doctor, he adopted a moderate lifestyle and severe dietary restrictions. The results were remarkable: he regained his health and lived to be about 100 years old. At the age of 83, he published the treatise On Temperate Living, followed by other works dedicated to moderation.
The English physician George Cheyne (1671–1743), himself faced with the consequences of overeating, advocated for dietary reforms and the use of dietary restriction in the treatment of certain diseases.
German physician Friedrich Hoffmann (1660–1742) recommended fasting for various conditions, claiming that reducing food intake during illness could facilitate the healing process.
Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland (1762–1836), author of Macrobiotics – the art of prolonging human life, believed that loss of appetite during illness was a physiological sign that the body was not ready for digestion.
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) summarized this perspective by stating that "rest and fasting are sometimes the best remedies."
Fasting in the Modern Era
In the 19th century, American physician Edward Hooker Dewey promoted fasting as a treatment, arguing that food should not be resumed until natural appetite returns. His ideas influenced many practitioners and contributed to the development of fasting therapy.
At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, fasting became more widespread, especially within natural health movements. Specialised clinics were established in Germany, Switzerland, France, and the United States, where extensive clinical experience was developed.
Fasting and Religion
In many religious traditions, fasting is used to prepare individuals for spiritual experience and closeness to the sacred.
In ancient religions and Greek mystery traditions, fasting was required for initiation and receiving revelations. In pre-Columbian Peru, it was associated with penance and moral purification.
In the traditions of some Native American tribes, fasting preceded visionary experiences, and in Siberia, shamans of the Evenk people practiced food abstinence to intensify their spiritual experiences.
In Jainism, fasting is considered a fundamental spiritual practice. In Buddhism, monks of the Theravada school observe strict dietary disciplines, and in Hinduism, ascetics (sadhus) are known for their long periods of fasting.
Zoroastrianism is an exception among major religions because it discourages severe forms of dietary asceticism.
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, fasting occupies an important place in religious life. Judaism includes fast days such as Yom Kippur, Christianity institutes fasting periods before major holidays, and in Islam, the month of Ramadan involves daily abstinence from sunrise to sunset.
Therapeutic Fasting in Russia and Europe
In Russia, research on therapeutic fasting was developed by Victor Vasilievich Pashutin and later by academician Yuri Nikolaev (1905–1998), under whose leadership the method was officially recognized as "fasting diet therapy".
In Germany, physician Otto Buchinger was instrumental in integrating fasting into modern medical practice. Today, numerous European centers offer medically supervised therapeutic fasting programs.
In recent decades, interest in fasting has grown again in Europe and the United States, including through the popularization of forms such as intermittent fasting.
Fasting and Detoxification
Within the concept of detoxification, fasting is considered an important method. This approach is based on the idea that harmful substances from food, air, and the environment may accumulate in the body and contribute to disease. From this perspective, fasting is part of a broader approach focused on prevention, metabolic balance, and maintaining overall health.