10 Health Benefits of Fasting in Ramadan

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10 Health Benefits of Fasting in Ramadan

What is Fasting?

Fasting is a religious practice observed by Muslims around the world during the holy month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During this month, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and controlling all inner desires from dawn to sunset. The fast is broken at sunset with a meal called iftar. Meanwhile, Muslims eat another meal before dawn, which is called Suhoor to sustain themselves during the day. The duration of fasting lasts for 29 or 30 days, depending on the sight of the new moon. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, and is considered an opportunity to focus on worship, self-discipline and spirituality, charity and good deeds.

Quranic Sayings About Benefits of Fasting in Ramadan

Here are some Quranic proverbs to highlight the importance and benefits of fasting during Ramadan:

“He who has believed, commanded you, is fasting, as those before you were commanded, to be righteous. [Qur’an 2:183]

By abstaining from food, drink and other human needs, Muslims can bring a greater sense of self-discipline, self-control, and spirituality into their lives.

“Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed; A guide to mankind, clear evidence of guidance, and norms (of right and wrong). [Qur’an 2:185]

It emphasizes the importance of reading, understanding and reflecting on the sayings of the Quran during the month of Ramadan.

“And it is better for you to fast, if you only know.” [Qur’an 2:184]

This verse encourages Muslims to fast during Ramadan, as it is considered beneficial for their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Various Benefits of Fasting in Ramadan

The benefits of fasting are versatile and include physical, mental, spiritual and social benefits. Here are some of the benefits of fasting:

Spiritual purification and self-discipline
Fasting is a means of spiritual purification, as it allows Muslims to purify their mind, heart and body through self-discipline, self-control and introspection. By abstaining from food, drink and other physical necessities during daylight hours, Muslims can develop greater self-awareness, humility, empathy and a stronger relationship with Allah.

Gratitude and sympathy
One of the benefits of fasting in Ramadan is that it is an opportunity to express gratitude for the blessings of food, water and physical health, which we often take for granted. It also helps to foster a sense of empathy for those who are less fortunate and may not have access to these basic necessities of life, nutritious food and quality healthcare. Muslims are encouraged to give donations, pay zakat and do good deeds during Ramadan, which alleviates the suffering of the marginalised community.

SACH provides free medical and surgical treatment and organizes medical camps for the underprivileged people of Pakistan. This Ramadan, you can also extend a helping hand to a deserving patient. Create a Ramadan donation plan through our largest crowdfunding platform to provide quality healthcare across Pakistan.

Physical Health & Wellness
Fasting in Ramadan has many physical and mental health benefits, such as managing our body weight, maintaining a balanced metabolism, and better controlling our blood sugar levels. By following a fast during the day, the body gets a break from continuous digestion, which can help improve metabolic function and promote overall health and well-being.

Health Benefits of Fasting in Ramadan

1. Weight Loss and Better Metabolism
One of the first health benefits of fasting in Ramadan is that it helps in weight loss and improves metabolism. As the body adjusts to a limited amount of food and drink during the day, it begins to use stored fat as a source of energy and consume it. This leads to fat burning and weight loss, and can also improve the body’s metabolism, making it more efficient at burning calories.

2. 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. Additionally, 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.

3. Boosted the immune system
An important benefit of fasting in Ramadan is that it boosts the immune system. During fasting, the body shifts from using glucose as the primary source of energy to using ketones, which are produced from fat stores. This shift activates a process called autophagy, where the body begins to break down and recycle damaged cells, including the immune system. Autophagy helps improve immune system function by removing old or damaged immune cells and replacing them with new, healthy ones.

4. Better sleep
Fasting has been suggested to help improve sleep in a number of ways. For example, fasting has been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can interfere with sleep. Additionally, one of the benefits of fasting in Ramadan is that it is linked to an increase in the production of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin. It can also help regulate circadian rhythms, which are natural 24-hour cycles that control many physiological processes in the body, including sleep. By aligning the body’s natural rhythms with the sleep-wake cycle, fasting can help improve sleep quality and duration.

5. Lowers 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 high blood pressure. It also promotes weight loss, which can contribute to lowering blood pressure. Additionally, fasting has been found to improve insulin sensitivity, which is also linked to lower blood pressure.

6. Controls ‘bad’ cholesterol
One of the important benefits of fasting in Ramadan is that it can help regulate bad cholesterol, also known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. It does this by lowering the levels of triglycerides in the blood, which is a type of fat that can contribute to high cholesterol. When the body is in a state of fasting, it starts using stored fat as energy, which can help lower the levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in the blood.

7. A month’s detox
Fasting during Ramadan can help detoxify the body by allowing the liver to better process and eliminate toxins manufactured in the body. When a person fasts, the body switches to using stored fat for energy, which allows the release of toxins stored in fat. Additionally, fasting can increase the production of certain hormones and reduce inflammation, which can support the body’s detoxification processes.

Final Note
These are some important benefits of fasting in Ramadan, which you need to know, to stay fit during Ramadan. Hopefully, the information provided in this article will help you better understand the importance of fasting. If you like reading more about charity and healthcare, keep visiting the Transparent Hands website. In addition, you donate to us to help the poor and underprivileged people of Pakistan get high-quality healthcare for free during this holy month.