I just realized that the fast is centered around doing without the very things that the poor can't afford. If it was just healht then we would cut out grains, sugars and simple carbohydrates. Those are the things that killing us. Eating meat, animal fat and vegetables is the healthiest way to eat. But the poor can not afford to go without simple grains and breads so the church fast is geared to the least of these and what they can afford. It would be wonderful if it was possible to use parish $ to help the poor to have only meat and vegetables and animal products during the fast so it would be two fold benefit. That would be enough time to long term change people's brain structure and kill off the gut bacteria that controll the cravings and addictions to sugar and carbohydrates. People would know what it felt like to be free of cravings, brain fog and energy crashes.