Plus, whereas statins carry the risk of diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, fasting reduces body weight, preserves fat-free mass, and decreases waist circumference. In addition, fasting preserves HDL, unlike low-fat diets, which tend to decrease both LDL and HDL. Overall, fasting produces significant improvements in multiple cardiac risk factors. For people worried about heart attacks and strokes, the question is not “Why are you fasting?” but “Why are you not fasting?”
