Fasting: From Mosaic Law & Early Church Councils to Autophagy, Insulin Sensitivity & the Surprising Biology of Self-Denial

What begins as a child's question about why Catholics give things up for Lent opens into one of history's most profound and cross-cultural human practices. We trace the theological and spiritual foundations of Christian fasting from the Old Testament through the medieval black fast, unpack the surprisingly political and economic history behind why fish became the Friday staple, and survey how Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism each developed their own rich traditions of ritual abstinence. We then pivot to cutting-edge cellular biology, spelling out the concrete practical benefits of intermittent fasting — from fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity to autophagy and brain health — revealing that what ancient mystics practiced for the soul, scientists are now confirming is also medicine for the body. Essential theology, history, and biology for curious minds of every age.