Fasting

Fasting in the religious sense, at least according to my faith tradition, is to go without food and water for 24 hours (or two meals) and pray much and give an offering unto the Lord for the poor. There are so many benefits to fasting including greater self-control, greater selflessness, more-fervent prayers, greater appreciation of what I have, and greater faith. Many religions do a fast. Even non-religious people will sometimes abstain from food and water or certain foods for a certain amount of time. Is this the missing link that can help more people improve their lives?