Fasting And Its Health Benefits
Fasting for Muslims is more of a religious obligation than any
other thing, that doesn’t, however, mean that other benefits cant be extracted
from it. Muslims fast in the month of Ramadan every year and their way of fasting
is very different from the medical or experimental ones. It is not just
restraining from eating & drinking, it is lot more than that. The Quran
states “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to
those before you so that you can learn Taqwa (good deeds and
God-consciousness)” [1] and the Prophet of Islam said “Whoever does not give up
forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food
and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting)”.[2]
Thus, we see that fasting in Islam doesnt just include skipping meals, it also includes refraining from any deceit in speech and action, abstaining from any offensive and indecent speech, avoiding arguing, fighting or having lustful thoughts.
Thus, we see that fasting in Islam doesnt just include skipping meals, it also includes refraining from any deceit in speech and action, abstaining from any offensive and indecent speech, avoiding arguing, fighting or having lustful thoughts.
Ramadan fasting reinforces control of whims and helps to build up
good conduct. This decontamination of body and soul complements the personal
and superficial spheres of a person. The extreme hunger and thirst shape the
behavior and pattern of those who fast, it encourages humbleness and avoiding
of sins and helps avoiding the outburst of uncontrollable lusts and desires.
Since I am a student of Medicine, I would concentrate more on the medical
benefits of fasting.
A lot of work has already been done on the subject of medical
aspects of fasting. These include the works of Dr. Allan Cott, Fereidoun Azizi,
Hossein Rasouli, Al Hazmi, Al Hourani and more recently by Dr. Shaheena Kamal,
Dr. Rabinderjeet Singh, Kamal Mansi. The methods chosen by these people to
study things related to fasting are different but their findings are almost
similar. In following few paragraphs I will try to illuminate their findings.
Benefits Of Fasting
Impact of Fasting on the Digestive System:
The intestinal contraction decreases during fasting, [3] this
benefits patients with spastic colitis and some other intestinal motility
disorders. Dr. Cott writes in his “Fasting as a Way of life”,
“fasting brings a wholesome physiological rest for the digestive
tract and central nervous system and normalizes metabolism.”[4]
Impact of Fasting on the Cardiovascular System:
The findings and researches show marked and significant increase
in plasma level of HDL (high density lipoprotein also known as ‘Good
Cholesterol’) in last 10 days of Ramadan.[5] HDL is a protective factor against
development of heart and vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and coronary
heart diseases and also decreases the risks of heart attacks. Increase in HDL
is thus a good news for heart and blood vessels. In an another survey, cholesterol,
LDL- C and serum triglyceride were found to be reduced significantly after 21
days of fasting which again is good news for our heart and blood vessels. [6]
Impact of Fasting on Nervous System:
Recent researches and studies have revealed that fasting (short
term fasting in particular) induces neuronal autophagy.[7] Autophagy, or
“self-eating,” is the process by which cells recycle waste material, down
regulate wasteful processes, and repair themselves. Our brain’s health itself
is very much dependent on neuronal autophagy. Hence with the increase in
autophagy our brain works more proficiently.
Additionally, short and intermittent fasting, like that of
Ramadan, increases production of brain derived Neurotrophic factor (BNDF), a
protein that interacts with parts of brain that regulate memory, learning and
higher cognitive functions.[8] It helps existing neurons to survive while
promoting neurogenesis and development of synapses. Recent studies also show
that BNDF improves glucose regulation and cardiovascular function.[9]
Impact of Fasting on Senses:
The owner of one of the few fasting centers in USA, Dr. Ralph
Cinque, a graduate from UCLA and Western States Chiropractic College, is also a
founding member and past president of the International Association of Hygienic
Physicians, he writes:
“Fasting increases the acuity of other senses as well, including
hearing and smell, and sometimes even vision. Fasting can sharpen the mind too”
[11]
Fasting Leads to Detoxification:
Our body breaks down & devours fat reserves for energy during
fasting [12] which mobilizes and eliminates the toxins present in the fat
deposits. This fact makes Ramadan a golden opportunity for Muslims to cleanse
their bodies. Intermittent fasting also protects from environmental and
metabolic toxins. [13]
Fasting and Nutrient Absorption:
The absorption of nutrients improves during fasting because of
significant increase in level of a hormone called ‘adiponectin’.[14] The
efficient absorption of nutrients leads to health benefits throughout the body,
as better absorption of nutrients sequentially improves functioning.
Impact of Fasting on Body Weight:
Almost all the researches done in various parts of world show that
the subjects fasting for almost a month loose weight from 1.5 to 4.0 kg. What
is more interesting is that it has been found that overweight and obese people
lose more weight than normal and underweight people. [15]
Fasting and Defense Mechanism:
Intermittent fasting leads to increase in the level of antioxidants
like Mitochondrial Superoxide Dismutase. This prevents free radical induced
cell damage. [16]
Impact of Fasting on Psychology:
Those who observe fasts during the month of Ramadan describe a
feeling of inner peace and serenity. The personal aggression is minimum during
this month. Studies reveal that intermittent fasting helps reducing stress as
well. [10] The Prophet of Islam is reported to have said: “..and if somebody
fights with him (the person who is fasting) or abuses him, he should tell him
twice, “I am fasting”…” [17]
Fasting also leads to good deeds, since throughout the day, hunger
reminds the person the reason he is fasting for. Since most of the people fast
for the sake of religion, it reminds the person of religious obligations and
hence leading to good deeds or avoiding of bad ones.
Ramadan fasting also improves resistance and can get rid of
diseases and conditions like peptic ulcer, rheumatoid arthritis, edema of
ankles and legs, swelling in abdomen, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis,
ischemic strokes, synaptic pathology, cancer, etc.
It is no wonder that in his ultimate wisdom , God says:
“…And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.…” (The
Holy Qur’an)
References:
1. The Qur’an 2:183
2. Sahih al Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 127.
3. Sana SK. Cyclic motor activity, migrating motor complex. Gastro
– enterology 1985;89:894 -9
4. Cott, A., “Fasting Is A Way Of Life”, New York: Bantam Books,
1977.
5. Maislos M, Khamaysi N, Assali A, Abou-Rabiah Y, Zvili I, Shany
S. Marked increase in plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after
prolonged fasting during Ramadan. Am J Clin Nutr 1993;57:640-2..
Adlouni A, Ghalim N, Benslimane A, Lecery JM, Saile R. Fasting
during Ramadan induces a marked increase in HDL and decrease in
LDL-cholesterol. Ann Nutr Metab 1997 ;41:242-9
6. Aziz, K. ;Raja, R. J. ;and Marri, S. H. Variation in lipid
profile during fasting in Ramadan in healthy male adults –J. P. M. A, 1992; 42
(10): 242-3.
7. Young JE, Martinez RA, La Spada AR. Nutrient deprivation
induces neuronal autophagy and implicates reduced insulin signaling in
neuroprotective autophagy activation. J Biol Chem. 2009;284:2363–2373.[PMC free
article] [PubMed]
8. Mattson MP (2005) Energy intake, meal frequency, and health: a
neurobiological perspective. Annu Rev Nutr 25, 237-260.
9. Duan W, Guo Z, Jiang H, Ware M and Mattson MP (2003) Reversal
of behavioral and metabolic abnormalities, and insulin resistance syndrome, by
dietary restriction in mice deficient in brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
Endocrinology 144, 2446-2453
10. Mager DE, Wan R, Brown M, Cheng A, Wareski P, Abernethy DR and
Mattson MP (2006) Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting alter spectral
measures of heart rate and blood pressure variability in rats. FASEB J 20, 631-637.
11. http://www.drcinque.com/facts.html
12. . Rehman. Jamil ur ; Shafiq Mohammad. Changes in blood glucose
and lipid profile during Ramadan fasting. JAMC 2000. vol 12 : page 13-15
13. Steinkraus KA, Smith ED, Davis C, Carr D, Pendergrass WR,
Sutphin GL, Kennedy BK and Kaeberlein M (2008) Dietary restriction suppresses
proteotoxicity and enhances longevity by an hsf-1-dependent mechanism in
Caenorhabditis elegans. Aging Cell 7, 394-404.
Hfaïedh N, Allaqui MS, Croute F, Soleilhavoup JP, Jammoussi K, Makni
Ayadi F, Kammoun A and El Feki A (2005) [Interaction of intermittent fasting on
the cytotoxic effects of nickel in rats at puberty]. C R Biol 328, 648-660.
Hfaiedh N, Allagui MS, Carreau S, Zourgui L, Feki A and Croute F
(2008) Impact of dietary restriction on peroxidative effects of nickel chloride
in wistar rats. Toxicol Mech Methods 18, 597-603.
14. Kadowaki T, Yamauch T. Adiponectin and adiponectin receptors.
Endocr Rev 2005;26:439–51.
15. Takruri HR. Effect of fasting in Ramadan on body weight. Saudi
Med J 1989; 10:491-4.
16. Descamps O, Riondel J, Ducros V and Roussel AM (2005)
Mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species and incidence of
age-associated lymphoma in OF1 mice: effect of alternate-day fasting. Mech
Ageing Dev 126, 1185-1191.
17. Sahih al Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 118
By Fuzail Ahmad