The Doctors on Fasting
Effects
of Greek Orthodox Christian Church fasting on serum lipids and obesity
Orthodox Christian holy books recommend a total of 180–200
days of
fasting per year. The faithful are advised to avoid olive oil, meat,
fish, milk and dairy products every Wednesday and Friday throughout the
year. Additionally, there are three principal fasting periods per year:
i) a total of 40 days preceding Christmas (meat, dairy products and
eggs are not allowed, while fish and olive oil are allowed except on
Wednesdays and Fridays), ii) a period of 48 days preceding Easter
(Lent). During Lent fish is allowed only two days whereas meat, dairy
products and eggs are not allowed. Olive oil consumption is allowed
only at weekends, iii) a total of 15 days in August (the Assumption)
when the same dietary rules apply as for Lent with the exception of
fish consumption which is allowed only on August 6th.
Seafood such as shrimps, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, lobsters, crabs as
well as snails are allowed on all fasting days throughout the year. The
Greek Orthodox fasting practices can therefore be characterized as
requiring a periodic vegetarian diet including fish and seafood.
The study concludes that adherence to Greek Orthodox fasting periods
contributes to a reduction in the blood lipid profile including a
non-significant reduction in HDL cholesterol and possible impact on
obesity.
Greek
Orthodox fasting rituals: a hidden characteristic of the Mediterranean
diet of Crete
The longevity and excellent health status of the population of Crete
has been attributed to its lifestyle and dietary habits. The impact of
Greek Orthodox Christian Church fasting on these dietary habits has
never been studied. One hundred and twenty Greek Orthodox Christians
living in Crete participated in a 1-year prospective study.
The present study is one of the first studies presenting
an overall picture of the Mediterranean type of diet that is
recommended by the Greek Orthodox Church.
The study shows that Christian Orthodox diet contributes greatly to the good health and nutritional status of
the studied population.
This is a follow-up study was conducted to identify the heart disease risk-factor status and dietary changes of surviving elderly subjects in Crete who took part in the Seven Countries Study in 1960. In 1991, data were obtained from 245 of the 686 original male participants. There was a significant (11.5%) increase in serum total cholesterol concentrations between 1960 and 1991. Body mass index and systolic and diastolic blood pressures also increased significantly, and all age groups were characterized by central obesity. Dietary data indicated increases in the intake of saturated fat and decreases in monounsaturated fat over the 30-y period.
Comparison with a 1962 representative Cretan sample indicated a significantly increased concentration of adipose palmitic acid (16:0) in our surviving sample. The observed changes occurred during a period when many developed countries were observing a decline in most heart disease risk factors.
This study hints to the fact that that abbandoning the traditional Greek-Orthodox diet recommended by the Church and addopting the Western style diet that excludes fasting and includes a higher amount of meat products has a negative impact on the overall health and incresases the risk of heart disease.