Survey: Germany fasts

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

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Fasting is becoming increasingly popular among Germans: 59 percent of German citizens have fasted at least once for several weeks - five years ago it was 15 percent less. This was the result of a representative survey on behalf of the DAK with more than 1,000 people.

While traditional therapeutic fasting completely dispenses with solid food, most fasting fans tend to renounce an unhealthy habit in the weeks before Easter.

Four weeks of drinking break

The abstinence from alcohol, which 68 percent of those willing to fast - including more men than women - is still particularly popular. These, in turn, more often indicate that they want to forego sweets. More than one in three respondents do not want to eat meat (39 percent), and almost as many do not want to touch cigarettes (34 percent). Others leave their television set (34 percent) switched off or park their car (18 percent).

No tweeting, no surfing

One in four also seems to strive to do without online media - at least in a private context. This also applies to the younger respondents: "Even younger people notice that the body needs digital rest phases in order to stay healthy and fit," explains DAK expert Ralf Kremer.

Stress reduction is the most common reason for fasting online, followed by the desire to spend the time available with friends and family.

Ancient custom

Fasting is an ancient custom that is common in many cultures. The conscious, temporary renunciation of food, or even water, served original spiritual purposes. Many people now fast for health reasons.

Therapeutic fasting, for example, can have a positive effect on blood sugar, blood pressure and blood lipid levels. But it is even more important to break through unfavorable habits that have crept in and thus free yourself from them.

The fairy tale of the slag

The famous detox effect that many hope for from fasting, on the other hand, is a myth that scientifically cannot be kept. Because the excretory organs thoroughly filter out toxins from the body every day - whether fasting or not.

Source: Press release DAK-Gesundheit Zentrale, 02/27/1017

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