10 Health Benefits of Fasting During Ramadan

Millions of people across the globe fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. However, apart from the spiritual significance, most of them are not familiar with the health benefits of fasting from all food or drinks for a set period of time, which numerous studies have discovered recently.

Here are 10 health benefits of fasting in Ramadan:

Reduces high blood pressure 

A study published in The American Journal of Medicine recently showed that fasting can help reduce high blood pressure and reduce the risk for hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. 

Improves body composition 

Fasting increases your metabolic rate and can help you lose weight by reducing the percentage of body visceral fat a person has while increasing muscle mass. It also enhances hormone function to facilitate weight loss. Fasting will make you eat fewer meals so you will end up taking in fewer calories per day unless you compensate by eating much more during the other meals.

Boosts brain functions

Several studies have found that fasting could have a powerful effect on brain health and prevent neurodegenerative disorders because it helps relieve inflammation, though research is mostly limited to animal research. A number of studies on animals have shown that fasting could increase the generation of nerve cells to help enhance cognitive function. They suggested that fasting may improve outcomes for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's.

Reduces cancer risk 

Fasting can help you reduce the risk of cancer and block tumor formation as cancer cells can't process ketones produced by the liver from fat and fatty acids when in a fasting state. However, additional studies are needed to look at how fasting may influence cancer development in humans since most research is limited to its effects in animals.

Stimulates autophagy 

Autophagy is the process by which cells and tissues recycle damaged components to renew themselves. When we fast, the cells in the body initiate the cellular waste removal process.

Improves blood sugar level

Fasting promotes blood sugar control by reducing insulin resistance, which could be especially useful for those at risk of type 2 diabetes. Keep in mind that fasting may impact blood sugar levels differently for males and females. A study showed that it impaired blood sugar control in females but had no effect in males.

Reduces stress

Fasting has long been associated with healthy eating habits, and sleep length, as it helps regulate your natural sleep cycle and makes it easier to fall asleep at night. This is something that lowers depression, anxiety, and stress levels.

Normalizes ghrelin levels 

Fasting normalizes ghrelin levels, a hormone responsible for hunger, which helps you lose weight without feeling excessively hungry, unlike many other diets. 

Improves digestive system

Fasting positively impacts one lifestyle and digestive system. It balances the heat generation and acidity levels in the stomach. Also, the human body naturally detoxifies to ensure the gut is cleaned up in between meals.

Reduces oxidative stress 

Several studies show that intermittent fasting may enhance the body's resistance to oxidative stress, one of the steps toward aging and many chronic diseases as it involves unstable molecules that damage other important molecules, such as protein and DNA.