Recent research suggests that fasting may lower cholesterol. Fasting involves refraining from eating food and sometimes drinking for a certain period of time. People may engage in fasting for a variety of reasons, including possible health benefits or religious reasons.
The liver creates cholesterol for purposes such as contributing to the structure of cell walls, producing vitamin D, and making certain hormones. Types of cholesterol
- HDL, or good cholesterol: This is “good cholesterol” as it helps to remove bad cholesterol from the arteries.
- LDL, or bad cholesterol: This causes fatty buildups in the arteries, narrowing them and resulting in issues such as heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease (PAD). High-fat, non-nutritious foods can contribute to the build-up of LDL cholesterol.
- Triglycerides: Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood.
A
The study found that alternate-day fasting, which means fasting on certain days and eating a typical or usual diet on other days, lowered total cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides in participants. However, the same study also found that time-restricted eating resulted in slightly higher cholesterol levels. Time-restricted eating means a person restricts all their eating to a six—to eleven-hour eating window.
A
Other studies also found that intermittent fasting prevents cholesterol from accumulating, halting the progression of cholesterol-related illnesses such as diabetic retinopathy.
Health benefits of fasting may go beyond just helping with the buildup of cholesterol, including:
- weight management
- helping treat illnesses such as type 2 diabetes
- reversing issues resulting from a high fat diet
- enhancing positive moods
- improving blood glucose level
A person should always speak with a doctor or healthcare professional before changing or restricting their diet.