I fast for religious reasons - once per month, 24 hours at a time. Fasting for me means no food or drink.

There have been studies highlighting both the risks and benefits of fasting.

This article outlines three benefits:
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1834
1) Detox: The body rids itself of toxins that have built up.
2) Repair: All damaged organs repair during a fast
3) Long Life: Good evidence that regulated fasting contributes to longer life.

Risks:
1) Don't fast for extended periods of time w/o supervision.
2) Some doctors deny the 3 above benefits.

Here is a good quote from the "Health Benefits of Fasting":
"Fasting is an exceptionally ancient, and powerful, approach to healing many common disease conditions. It allows the body to rest, detoxify, and to heal. During fasting the body moves into the same kind of detoxification cycle that it normally enters during sleep. It uses its energy during a fast, not for digesting food, but for cleansing the body of accumulated toxins and healing any parts of it that are ill. As a fast progresses the body consumes everything that it can that is not essential to bodily functioning. This includes bacteria, viruses, fibroid tumors, waste products in the blood, any build up around the joints, and stored fat. The historical record indicates that human beings are evolutionarily designed to fast. It is an incredibly safe approach to healing and the body knows how to do it very well. "
http://gaianstudies.org/articles4.htm

In addition to physical benfits; many would say their are psychological and spirital benefits too. Psychological include breaking from habit of eating being a subconcious action; and gaining more awareness of your body (and mind vs. body.) Spiritual benefits (some say) include denying the wants of the body,
Source(s):
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1834
http://gaianstudies.org/articles4.htm

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