Why is Meat Excluded from the Orthodox Christian Diet during Fasting? A Religious and Medical Approach

Abstract

Orthodox Christian fasting (OF) incorporates voluntary abstention from specific foods for 180-200 days per year. Meat eating and OF cannot coexist: meat eating negates fasting and fasting excludes meat eating (incompatible concepts). In this article, the possible medical reasons for the exclusion of meat from the OF are presented and commented.