user135: One of the answers to this question 'Is there a tradition or practice involving fasting in Buddhism or Buddhist countries?' says that fasting is followed by Tibetan Buddhists.
Why is fasting allowed since it is as extreme as gluttony and not a middle way? If I am right, following the path of the śramaṇic and yogic systems which existed at the time of Gautama Buddha, he subjected his body to extremes such as fasting and then realized that such extremes do not help in his enlightenment.
Has the Buddha prohibited fasting in any of his teachings? 

user2265: There are a lot of scientifically proven benefits of fasting for short periods of time.
Within the earliest form of Buddhism, fasting after noon is recommended way of life.
This means they would get done with the "taking care of the body" part of their life out of the way early and can devote the most time to what is truly important: spiritual cultivation.
This is a fast of 16 hours. On the other hand, very long fasts that are weeks long is not the Middle Way and Buddha recommended against that.
Eating 3 meals a day is actually falling further on the opposite spectrum: eating too much, so be wary.

user8044: Lay Buddhists observe the Full-moon day as a day of fasting when meals are not taken after mid day.  On that day they abstain from sensual pleasures and the use of high and luxurious seats and beds.  Time is spent on the practice of the Dhamma.  This has to be developed as an inner strength.
Fasting alone does not lead to purification. The bhikkhus too fast daily between midday and the following dawn.  But this is not called fasting. For some people when meditating fasting may work well, but for others it works just the opposite — the more they fast, the stronger their defilements get. It's not the case that when you starve the body you starve the defilements, because defilements don't come from the body. They come from the mind
There is the Dhammapada verse (with regards to ascetic Jambuka) in the scriptures that says that realization is far superior to mere fasting. It’s English translation is :
“Month after month a fool may eat only as much food as can be picked up on the tip of a kusa grass blade, but he is not worth a sixteenth part of those who have comprehended the Truth.”
But other ascetics at Buddha’s time did so. But it is said the prolonged, so-called meritorius fasting of other ascetics who have not destroyed the passions, is not worth the sixteenth part of a solitary day's fasting of an Ariya who has realized the four Noble Truths. There’s another Dhammapada verse (with regards to ascetic Bahu Bhandika)  that says, that external penances such as fasting cannot purify a person.

135: <p>One of the answers to this question '<a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2303/is-there-a-tradition-or-practice-involving-fasting-in-buddhism-or-buddhist-count">Is there a tradition or practice involving fasting in Buddhism or Buddhist countries?</a>' says that fasting is followed by Tibetan Buddhists.</p>

<p>Why is fasting allowed since it is as extreme as gluttony and not a middle way? If I am right, following the path of the śramaṇic and yogic systems which existed at the time of Gautama Buddha, he subjected his body to extremes such as fasting and then realized that such extremes do not help in his enlightenment.</p>

<p>Has the Buddha prohibited fasting in any of his teachings? </p>
 2265: <p>There are a lot of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_fasting#Research" rel="nofollow">scientifically proven benefits of fasting</a> for short periods of time.</p>

<p>Within the earliest form of Buddhism, fasting after noon is recommended way of life.</p>

<p>This means they would get done with the "taking care of the body" part of their life out of the way early and can devote the most time to what is truly important: spiritual cultivation.</p>

<p>This is a fast of 16 hours. On the other hand, very long fasts that are weeks long is not the Middle Way and Buddha recommended against that.</p>

<p>Eating 3 meals a day is actually falling further on the opposite spectrum: eating too much, so be wary.</p>
 8044: <p>Lay Buddhists observe the Full-moon day as a day of fasting when meals are not taken after mid day.  On that day they abstain from sensual pleasures and the use of high and luxurious seats and beds.  Time is spent on the practice of the Dhamma.  This has to be developed as an inner strength.</p>

<p>Fasting alone does not lead to purification. The bhikkhus too fast daily between midday and the following dawn.  But this is not called fasting. For some people when meditating fasting may work well, but for others it works just the opposite — the more they fast, the stronger their defilements get. It's not the case that when you starve the body you starve the defilements, because defilements don't come from the body. They come from the mind</p>

<p>There is the Dhammapada verse (with regards to ascetic Jambuka) in the scriptures that says that realization is far superior to mere fasting. It’s English translation is :</p>

<p>“Month after month a fool may eat only as much food as can be picked up on the tip of a kusa grass blade, but he is not worth a sixteenth part of those who have comprehended the Truth.”</p>

<p>But other ascetics at Buddha’s time did so. But it is said the prolonged, so-called meritorius fasting of other ascetics who have not destroyed the passions, is not worth the sixteenth part of a solitary day's fasting of an Ariya who has realized the four Noble Truths. There’s another Dhammapada verse (with regards to ascetic Bahu Bhandika)  that says, that external penances such as fasting cannot purify a person.</p>
