The rewards of fasting

As Lent begins, Lucy Peppiatt looks at what scripture teaches about fasting, and why it’s a practice Christians can benefit from

Most religions link fasting to spiritual formation and prayer, but, recently, the idea of exercising restraint has entered into the mainstream. Fasting is having a moment. Many people swear by intermittent fasting for its multiple benefits: losing weight, staying healthy, being alert etc. It’s also increasingly common for people to cut back on alcohol, meat and sugar. An estimated 9 million people in the UK took part in Dry January, according to Alcohol Change. 

As a beneficial practice for mind and body, clearly, fasting is not just a Christian practice. But Lent is the time in the Church calendar that is specifically set aside for some form of self-denial.