Ramadan is a holy month of self-training and self-regulation. Additionally, it comes with diverse medical benefits. Since many years, people perform fasting for lowering lipid levels, weight management, and also to give some rest to the digestive system. Sometimes these crash diets and non-monitored fasting leave adverse effects on the body.
However, fasting during Ramadan is very much different from such diet plans as it does not come along with an inadequate calorie intake or malnutrition. Those who fast during Ramadan with well-balanced diets, including coconut and other fruits, experience a calorie intake that is typically equal to or slightly below the nutritional requirements needed.
The significant difference between total fasting and Ramadan is the timing of consuming food. In Ramadan, muslims consume a pre-Dawn meal, such as fruits and do not consume anything until dusk. They abstain from water for around 8 to 10 hours, which is not entirely bad for their health. Instead, it creates a concentration of all the fluids present in the body, resulting in slight dehydration, but the body comes with its own water conservation mechanism. As per scientific studies, fasting regenerates the immune system and eventually boosts the mechanisms of the human body.
Explore The Health Benefits Of Fasting During Ramadan:
After you fast for a few days, your body encounters an increased level of endorphins, which are pain-blocking chemicals in the brain that eventually increase alertness, reduce stress, and boost your feeling of overall well-being. Moreover, fasting also results in reduced levels of cholesterol, better weight loss, good digestive health, resting heart rate, better memory, and reduced blood pressure. In addition to these, fasting has the following health benefits:
- Better brain activity:
When you fast in Ramadan, it increases the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is a protein that interacts with neurons present in the basal forebrain, cortex and hippocampus, which are the parts of the brain regulating learning, memory, and better cognitive function. According to studies, with low levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, individuals go through memory loss, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s.
- Quitting bad habits:
Ramadan is the perfect opportunity to quit your bad habits for a better you. Sugary foods and smoking should be avoided entirely during Ramadan and must be replaced with organic fruits. When you do so, your body automatically adjusts to their absence until this addiction is completely kicked off. It is also very easy to quit certain bad habits when you practice with a group, which is easy to find in Ramadan.
- Control your cholesterol levels:
After the fasting periods in the month of Ramadan, the human body experiences a reduction in total triglycerides and cholesterol, along with an increased level of HDL-C, which leaves positive effects on the lipid profile. Hence, low cholesterol eventually increases your cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of a heart attack, heart disease, or stroke. Moreover, regular fasting with proper hydration from aquaplus water, and good heart health also promotes the way your body metabolises sugar and cholesterol. Regular fasting decreases your bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein. This also reduces the chances of developing diabetes and gaining weight, both of which are risk factors for heart disease.
- Appetite control:
One of the significant problems with an immense fad diet is that any weight loss experienced quickly comes back, and at times even a bit more. However, this is not the case when fasting in Ramadan. As you fast and consume less food throughout fasting, it eventually causes your stomach to reduce its appetite and gradually shrink.
For anyone willing to follow healthy habits, Ramadan is the perfect time to start. After Ramadan, your appetite will eventually be reduced compared to before. Also, you will not overindulge in eating, as fasting naturally reduces the appetite and hunger hormone levels in the body.
- Detoxification:
During fasting, your body reaches out to the fat reserves to generate energy and also burns away the harmful toxins that are present in the fat deposit. This process of body cleansing leaves a healthy blank slate and is a steppingstone towards a healthy lifestyle.
Detoxification is the procedure of reducing food intake and removing toxins from your body, or converting them and clearing congestion and excess mucus to revitalise the natural functions and healing procedures of the body. These toxins might be present in the form of nicotine, air pollutants, cholesterol, fats, free radicals, and other harmful drugs.
Fasting boosts the processes of detoxification, along with increasing the release of toxins from the kidneys, bladder, colon, respiratory tract, lungs, and skin. During this process, your digestive system rests, as there is no necessary food consumption during the day.
Conclusion:
When you start fasting, you might encounter a drop in both blood pressure and blood sugar level in the initial days. Your body starts the cleansing process. The initial days might be the hardest as they are accompanied by nausea, headache, dizziness, and immense fatigue. However, when your body adjusts to the fasting schedule, the digestive system eventually focuses on cleansing the body, and your body becomes more active. Also, ensure to switch to healthy foods and fluids like orange juice for constant energy.