8 Health Benefits of Fasting Fasting is the practice of abstaining from food and drink for a period of time. It has been practiced for centuries by people of all faiths, and there is growing scientific evidence to suggest that it has a number of health benefits. 1. Weight loss Fasting can help you lose weight and keep it off. When you fast, your body goes into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of glucose. This can lead to a significant reduction in body weight and body fat. 2. Improved blood sugar control Fasting can help improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes and prediabetes. When you fast, your body produces less insulin, which can help lower blood sugar levels. 3. Reduced inflammation Inflammation is a major factor in many chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Fasting can help reduce inflammation by reducing levels of inflammatory markers in the blood. 4. Protection against cancer Fasting may help prote...