Although many studies point to the positive effects of Roza, or fasting, many stress on more research to examine the long-term effects of abstinence from food and water.
Ramadhan fasting, which necessitates complete abstinence from food and drink, has been practised in various religions since time immemorial. During the holy month of Ramadan or Ramazan, millions of Muslims around the world fast as part of the spiritual and traditional practice of Islam.
Muslims fast for 29–30 days in a row every year during this month. They keep Roza (fast) from dawn to dusk and refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, intercourse, and a variety of other activities.
Ramadan fasting is one of Islam’s five pillars, commemorating the revelation of the Holy Quran to Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him. All healthy Muslims who have reached puberty must fast for a month, which is a time for spiritual introspection and closeness to God. But along with the spiritual dimension of Ramadan, scientific studies have shown numerous health benefits of Roza.
Science behind Fasting
The health implications of religious fast have been the subject of numerous scientific studies as a potential non-pharmacological intervention for improving health and increasing longevity. Caloric restriction (CR), alternate-day fasting (ADF), and dietary restriction (DR) are the three most widely studied fasts. The reduction of kilocalorie (kcal) intake by a certain percentage (typically 20–40%) of ad libitum consumption is known as calorie restriction (CR).
It has been proven that CR improves health and lengthens life. ADF is divided into two 24-h periods: during the “feast period,” fasters may eat as much as they want; during the “fast period,” food consumption is limited or stopped entirely. DR is defined as reducing one or more dietary components (usually macronutrients) with little to no reduction in total calorie intake. According to research, neither carbohydrate nor lipid restriction extends life.
Science behind Ramadhan Fasting
About 50 research articles on the medical ethics of fasting were presented at the first International Congress on “Health and Ramadan,” held in Casablanca in 1994. It was proposed that Ramadan fasting would be an excellent recommendation for the treatment of mild to moderate diseases such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes, essential hypertension, weight management, and for the rest of the digestive tract, which involves reducing blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and lipid profiles. Patients with serious illnesses, such as type 1 diabetes, coronary artery disease, kidney stones, and other conditions, should be exempted from fasting and should not be allowed to fast (1-2).
According to a research review published in the New England Journal of Medicine, intermittent fasting, like the fasts of Ramadan, can improve the prevention of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurological diseases, as long-term abstinence from food can improve the body’s immune system.
Although energy for bodily needs is normally derived from glucose stored in the liver, intermittent fasting alters metabolism so that ketones stored in fat are used instead. This process, known as ketogenesis It is known to have a wide range of benefits, including suppressing inflammation and improving the body’s response to stress.
- According to a 2014 review in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, fasting during Ramadan can boost the immune system, lower cholesterol and cause weight loss.
- A 2021 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that fasting during Ramadan has beneficial effects on blood pressure, weight and body fat levels.
Medical benefits of Ramadhan fasting
According to a research first major benefit, especially for obese men, is that the body begins to burn fat. In this way, weight is reduced and obesity is removed. Type 2 diabetes patients benefit from not having food for a long time every day, which reduces the amount of both glucose and insulin in their body.
A randomised controlled trial conducted by Krista A. Varady et al. found that alternate-day fasting (ADF) resulted in significant weight loss and improved metabolic markers in non-obese adults. A review article by Rafael de Cabo and Mark P. Mattson, neuroscientists at the National Institute on Aging and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, summarised the evidence supporting the health benefits of intermittent fasting, including improved glucose regulation and reduced inflammation.
Similarly, a study conducted by the Imperial College London Diabetes Center (ICLDC) and published in the journal Nutrients examined the effects of fasting during Ramadan on energy metabolism and overall health. The study suggests that time-restricted feeding during Ramadan, when carried out mindfully with attention paid to food type, quantity, and physical activity levels, may offer potential health benefits such as weight reduction.
Fasting has also been shown to protect against age-related diseases. In a study conducted by Sebastian Brandhorst etc, a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) improved markers of ageing, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease risk in healthy humans. Research published in journal Nature Aging by Longo et al., summarised the evidence supporting the protective effects of intermittent fasting against age-related diseases. A small study suggests that prolonged fasting (PF) may help reduce some of the negative effects that chemotherapy can have on the human body.
Any side effect of Ramadhan fasting?
A 2003 study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition noted some of the side effects of Ramadan. It noted that an “inherent” problem with fasting during the holy month was that patients’ taking prescribed medications Avoidance is more likely.
Irritability, headaches, lack of sleep and lack of energy were common side effects of fasting, the study said. It also noted that Muslims are “undoubtedly dehydrated” during Ramadan, but no adverse health effects were observed as a result of lack of water in body.
Experts say that when patients with diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases start fasting, they feel hungry, anxious and confused for about two weeks. But then these effects begin to diminish. The reason is that by then mind and all the body systems and organs get adjusted to the new habits of being hungry and thirsty for nearly 14-15 hours.
