ABSTRACT
In the early 1990s research undertaken by the Greek medical authorities into the reasons for heart attacks cast light on an unexpected insight. They discovered that heart attacks happened far less frequently to Greek men and women over 50 years old than to similarly aged people living in other European countries (Chliaoutaki, 2002; Sarri et al, 2003, 2004). After investigating and discarding various possible reasons for this they arrived at the conclusion that this was to do with the fasting laws of Greek Orthodox Christianity. It was shown that observing these laws and traditions ensured a far greater possibility of a long and healthy life than those who did not follow the laws and traditions.
