Fasting during the month of Ramadan is not only a spiritual practice, but can also bring significant benefits to the health of the body and mind.
It can help with weight management, keeping metabolism in balance, and better controlling blood sugar levels.
By fasting during the day, the body takes a break from constant digestion, which can help improve metabolic function and promote overall health and well-being.
But what are the health benefits of fasting during the month of Ramadan? Below we have listed the benefits.
Weight loss and improved metabolism
One of the first health benefits of fasting in Ramadan is that it helps you lose weight and improve your metabolism. As the body adjusts to a limited amount of food and drink during the day, the body begins to use stored fat as an energy source and consumes it. This leads to fat burning and weight loss, and the body's metabolism can also improve, making it more efficient at burning calories.
Better blood sugar control
Fasting can help control blood sugar levels by reducing insulin resistance and improving insulin sensitivity.
When a person fasts, the body is forced to use stored glucose for energy, which helps lower blood sugar levels. Fasting can also help reduce inflammation in the body, which is a contributing factor to insulin resistance. In addition, fasting can help promote weight loss, which is important for controlling blood sugar levels, as excess body fat can lead to insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels.
Strengthens the immune system
One of the important benefits of fasting in Ramadan is that it strengthens the immune system.
During a fast, the body switches from using glucose as its main source of energy to using ketones, which are produced from fat stores. This change activates a process called autophagy, where the body begins to break down and recycle damaged cells, including those in the immune system. Autophagy helps improve immune system function by removing old or damaged immune cells and replacing them with new, healthy ones.
Fasting improves sleep
Fasting is said to help improve sleep in several ways.
As reported, fasting is thought to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can interfere with sleep. In addition, among the benefits of fasting in Ramadan is that it increases the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. It may also help regulate circadian rhythms, which are the natural 24-hour cycles that regulate many physiological processes in the body, including sleep. By aligning the body's natural rhythms with the sleep-wake cycle, fasting can help improve the quality and duration of sleep.
Reduces blood pressure
Fasting has been shown to lower blood pressure by reducing the amount of sodium in the body and reducing inflammation, which can lead to hypertension. It also promotes weight loss, which can further contribute to lowering blood pressure. Additionally, fasting is said to improve insulin sensitivity, which is also associated with lower blood pressure.
