Abstaining from food for a limited period as a spiritual discipline (Fasting) - weekend media presentation "Humankind"

from HUMAN MEDIA dot-org (David Freudberg writer-producer, NPR, Humankind program):
We consider the surprising power of simply abstaining from food for a limited period as a spiritual discipline. There is a mystery to this practice, which can break the normal rhythms of our lives and lead to a rich contemplative experience. It also sensitizes fasters to the plight of people who suffer from malnutrition, a population estimated at 800 million by the United Nations. Fasting is found in many traditions including Judaism (Yom Kippur) Islam (Ramadan) and Christianity (Lent) as well as Native American traditions and aspects of Buddhism. Participants report a calming and clearing of the mind and an opportunity to connect with a higher presence. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Mohandas Gandhi, Cesar Chavez, Dorothy Day all observed periods of fasting. Author Carole Garibaldi Rogers comments that fasting is “counter-cultural” in our society of relentless consumption. But it can yield health benefits, when properly practiced, and grant a respite for self-reflection.
Program #226: http://www.humanmedia.org/catalog/program.php?products_id=386