Is Fasting Safe?

Fasting has been part of every human culture and religion since time immemorial and is generally recognized by the medical establishment as being safe. There have even been yearlong fasts (doctor-supervised, of course) that were not damaging in any way!

But there are certain conditions that people should always check in with their doctors before attempting fasts of any kind:

• Heart problems
• Liver or kidney insufficiency
• Epilepsy
• Pregnancy or breast-feeding
• Eating disorders
• Hypothyroidism