Fasting is something that Indians are not unfamiliar with, and the reasons vary from religious to political, to detox or to just keeping up with the latest fad.

For John Oakes, who has written a book on the subject, fasting is a journey of empowerment and strength, helping “centre” oneself. “No matter the situation you are in, no matter the forces that you face, you still retain a certain amount of agency, even if it’s only over your own body,” he says, explaining the sense of well-being people can define for themselves through fasting. 

Interestingly, Oakes’ tryst with fasting coincided with US President Donald Trump’s first term. Fasting, he says, gave him the strength to deal with an overwhelming political situation. He then plunged into researching fasting, speaking to doctors, sports nutritionists and others, besides delving into medical journals, articles and books.

Chemo and fasting

In his first book, The Fast: The history, science, philosophy, and promise of doing without, Oakes brings out several nuggets on fasting.

An insight that surprised him involved cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, who are often advised to eat to maintain energy levels. Some studies show that “fasting can open up your system and make it more receptive to... the medicines that you’re taking, and the therapies can be more effective because of your exposure to fasting”, Oakes says. 

He explains that when the body’s systems are focused on digesting the food “it can be tremendously draining and we forget that we’re operating within these little portable countries that are our bodies, and there’s a very limited amount of resources”. 

Fasting during chemotherapy can help, he says, adding that it should be done in consultation with the doctor. Similarly, referring to a century-old finding, Oakes says, “Epileptics who fasted responded to treatment much, much more quickly than others who didn’t.” 

No bible

Oakes does not advocate a “bible of fasting”, urging instead that people find their own rhythm. “Have goals to cut back, to take several elements out of your daily life, and then to know you can put them back in,” says Oakes. Sometimes the “brain in the gut” (microbiomes) tells the brain it’s hungry, he says, but the brain needs to assert authority. 

A few hours of fasting can help “reset”, and the sense of serenity that follows comes from a change in body chemistry, he says. And it’s important to “give your body a break”, he says, comparing it to a vacation to explore a new country, “a new way of being”.

Oakes is publisher of The Evergreen Review and editor-at-large for OR Books, which he co-founded in 2009.

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Published on February 9, 2025