Can fasting lower blood pressure?

Yes, fasting can lower blood pressure. Research has shown that intermittent fasting enhances the parasympathetic nerves that innervate the heart, reducing heart rate and blood pressure, similar to the effects seen with aerobic exercise. This effect is confirmed by studies where rats, subjected to either daily caloric restriction or intermittent fasting, exhibited reduced heart rate and blood pressure. These changes persisted for a period before returning to baseline once the fasting regimen was discontinued 1.