Muslims from across the world stay ordained to the Quran and fast for the whole of Ramadan month. Fasting is a part of pleasing God, in almost all religions. Probably, the health benefits of fasting were known to our forefathers several centuries ago.
Though the primary aim of fasting by Muslims is to
conform to religious norms, fasting brings in several health benefits too.
While considering health benefits, there are also a few problems to consider
and precautions to take while fasting.
Those who suffer from medical conditions like coronary
artery disease, kidney stones, etc. are exempt from fasting. The negative
effects of total fasting include hypokalemia (drastic drop of blood potassium
levels), cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart beat), etc. Ramadan fasting is not
total fasting and believers take nutrients needed for the body, through the
systematically planned early morning and evening food.Lowering of blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood
pressure are the first notable physiological changes.
Diabetes patients need to take extra care while
fasting. Hypoglycaemia, a condition characterized by abnormal drop of blood
sugar levels can cause health problems. Diabetic patients should reduce intake
of medicines or insulin injection during fasting. Monitoring of blood sugar
levels is also desirable. Conditions like tiredness, sweating, headaches,
unconsciousness, etc. are the symptoms of abnormally low levels of blood sugar
levels.
Hyperglycaemia- this is the reverse of hypoglycaemia,
characterised by increase of blood sugar levels. This is mainly due to the
medicines you take to sustain blood sugar levels. Increase in blood sugar
levels can cause problems to kidney and eyes.
Problems of Acidity and Ulcer –bile can get filled
up in stomach, which causes acidity and ulcer. Healthy individuals have considerable health benefits
from Ramadan fasting. It is an effective detoxification therapy. Toxins accumulated
in the body break down and pass out of the body.
Fasting is ideal for both overweight and underweight
persons. It is commonsense how fasting works to reduce weight. During fasting,
deposited fat gets used and burns down and facilitates weight loss.
Fasting also normalizes the digestive system of
underweight persons, and equips body to digest and assimilate nutrients from
the food they eat.
Fasting can also clear many skin problems. This is
because of the elimination of toxic materials from the body and generally
cleansing the blood.
Fasting has advantages in getting rid of addictions
and unhealthy habits like smoking and taking alcohol. Ramadan fasting improves the health condition of
healthy people. But for people who suffer from any medical condition should
monitor their body and physiology more closely.
Pregnant and feeding women are exempted from fasting
and they shall not attempt fasting, as it can deprive nutrition to both mother
and child.
Most Submitters (Muslims) do not fast because of
medical benefits but because it has been ordained to them in the Quran. The
medical benefits of fasting are as a result of fasting. Fasting in general has
been used in medicine for medical reasons including weight management, for rest
of the digestive tract and for lowering lipids.
There are many adverse effects of total fasting as
well as so-called crash diets. Islamic fasting is different from such diet
plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate
calorie intake.
The caloric
intake of Muslims during Ramadan is at or slightly below the national
requirement guidelines. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily
taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician.
Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and
self-training, with the hope that this training will last beyond the end of
Ramadan. If the lessons learned during Ramadan, whether in terms of dietary
intake or righteousness, are carried on after Ramadan, it is beneficial for
one’s entire life. Moreover, the type of food taken during Ramadan does not
have any selective criteria of crash diets such as those which are protein only
or fruit only type diets. Everything that is permissible is taken in moderate
quantities.
The only difference between Ramadan and total fasting
is the timing of the food; during Ramadan, we basically miss lunch and take an
early breakfast and do not eat until dusk. Abstinence from water during this
period is not bad at all and in fact, it causes concentration of all fluids within
the body, producing slight dehydration. The body has its own water conservation
mechanism; in fact, it has been shown that slight dehydration and water
conservation, at least in plant life, improve their longevity.
The physiological effect of fasting includes lower of
blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood
pressure. In fact, Ramadan fasting would be an ideal recommendation for
treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and
essential hypertension.
In 1994 the
first International Congress on "Health and Ramadan," held in
Casablanca, entered 50 research papers from all over the world, from Muslim and
non-Muslim researchers who have done extensive studies on the medical ethics of
fasting. While improvement in many medical conditions was noted; however, in no
way did fasting worsen any patients’ health or baseline medical condition. On
the other hand, patients who are suffering from severe diseases, whether
diabetes or coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt from
fasting and should not try to fast.
There are psychological effects of fasting as well.
There is a peace and tranquility for those who fast during the month of
Ramadan. Personal hostility is at a minimum, and the crime rate decreases. This
psychological improvement could be related to better stabilization of blood
glucose during fasting as hypoglycemia after eating, aggravates behavior
changes.
Recitation of the Quran not only produces a
tranquility of heart and mind, but improves the memory. Therefore, I encourage
my Muslim patients to fast in the month of Ramadan, but they must do it under
medical supervision. Healthy adult Muslims should not fear becoming weak by
fasting, but instead it should improve their health and stamina.
