Day 35: The Health Benefits of Orthodox Fasting

(Source of image: http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2011/04/22/08_620x350.jpg)

So we are on Day 35 of our humble blog about eating well (healthy and Lenten) during Great Lent (Μεγάλη Σαρακοστή).  As readers who have been following our entries can see, quite a few of the dishes we write about are not exactly diet food. Although they are generally vegan, some may wonder about the high carb count in some of the dishes. It is natural to also question the high amount of fat (oil) used in some dishes. So, the obvious question that some of you may be wondering is "How healthy is the diet of someone abstaining from animal products (except for crustaceans and some invertebrates such as octopus and calamari) during Great Lent?"


Well, for starters, OUR approach may not be typical of other Greek Orthodox Christians. We do live in Ontario, Canada, and are surrounded by a myriad of ethnic cuisines which lend themselves well to providing inspiration for Lenten dishes. So, although we may have touched on dishes such as Pad Thai, Mexican Burritos (Chipotle), etc., you'll notice that our dishes are mainly classic Greek dishes. 


What, then, does research say about the physiological effects of a traditional Greek Orthodox Lenten diet? There are a few ways to approach this question. For starters, how about examining how it affects those who practice it in the most dedicated manner. Much discussion has taken place about the very low level of cardiovascular disease and incidence of cancer in Greek Orthodox monks in Mt. Athos (the Holy Mountain), Greece. A couple of years ago, the popular U.S. television show 60 minutes discussed the astounding good health and longevity of monks in the Christian world's largest monastic community (see the video below).

(This CBS video, courtesy of 60 Minutes, is 14:23 minutes in length)

Clearly, not all of us are able or willing to live in the manner that Orthodox monks do. Research in the effects of a typical Orthodox diet (which includes over 200 days of abstinence from eating most animal products) has shown that lay people also benefit in a statistically significant manner. The world's leading research organization into healthy longevity, Blue Zones, has studied several regions of the world, including Okinawa (Japan), Costa Rica, Sardinia (Italy), Loma Linda (California, U.S.) and, most recently, the Greek island of Ikaria. This beautiful island has the highest percentage (in the world) of residents who live past 90 years old in good health. Blue Zones clearly identifies several reasons why Ikarians live so long, diet being one of them:

"Ikarians eat a variation of the Mediterranean diet (lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish), which adds about six years of life expectancy. They also eat a lot of wild greens. We found 70 or so types of greens, many with 10 times the level of antioxidants in green tea or red wine. We also discovered five or six regularly consumed herbal teas, many of which are mild diuretics. If you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor’s first line of defense is to prescribe diuretics. It turns out that just by drinking tea morning and night, these people are lowering their blood pressure over time." 

(Source: http://www.bluezones.com/programs/expeditions/ikaria-greece/)

Notice the reference to "a variation of the Mediterranean diet" and not "fasting, Orthodox diet." But if we read on and read between the lines, we recognize this as being pretty well typical of one shared by most Greek households who observe some form of regular fasting (nisteia). Of course, practising Greek Orthodox also eat a variety of nuts, abstain from fish (except for the Annunciation of the Theotokos (March 25) and Palm Sunday), not overeat and generally interact in a positive, respectful and loving Christian manner towards others. Although Blue Zones doesn't delve too much into the spiritual world of the Ikarian residents, their research does, in fact, touch upon the importance of community and participation in the religious community of the island as being  contributing factors in the overall good health of these islanders.

How do Mount Athos Monks stay so healthy?

"Before you go running out to buy the Mount Athos diet book (there isn't one), you might want to consider their meal plan.

"They eat two meals a day. The 'first meal' lasts 10 minutes; the 'second meal' also lasts 10 minutes," Simon reported. "There's no meat and no dinner table conversation - the only sound is a monk reading from sacred texts."

Still, the results seem impressive. The health of 1,500 monks was studied between 1994 and 2007. None had developed lung or bowel cancer. Only 11 had prostate cancer, a fraction of the international rate, according to the The Independent.

The benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet - lower rates of cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's - have long been touted. And it's not that hard to follow. Eat mostly fruits and vegetables, use herbs instead of salt, replace red meat with fish and lean poultry, and ditch the butter for olive oil. Also, be sure to throw in a few glasses of red wine. And, perhaps most importantly, get plenty of exercise." 

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20056985-10391704/how-do-mount-athos-monks-stay-so-healthy/ (Author: Neil Katz)