Aside from the religious obligations upon Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan, fasting has countless untold health benefits.
Physical ailments attack and harm the body and alter its normal functions because of the accumulation of certain substances in excess. This constitutes the cause of a majority of diseases and occurs because of overeating or consuming more than what the body needs by consuming that which brings about little benefit or is not digested easily or due to large meals comprising a variety of food. When the son of Adam habitually fills his stomach with these types of foods , he will end up with various types of illnesses , some of which take a long time to cure.
On the other hand , when one consumes moderate amounts of food and eats sensibly, the body will get the maximum benefit from the diet, as opposed to when one overeats. The foods we eat are to the extent of necessity, satiety or excess. The Prophet told us that one only needs a few bites to sustain him, so that his strength does not fail him. When one wishes to exceed what is barely enough, he should reserve a third of his stomach for his food, another this for water or drink and the last third for breathing. This is the best method of eating both for the body and the heart.
Miqdam bin Ma'dikarib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "No man fills a container worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for him. If he has to, then he should keep one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for his breathing." Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 515; Introduction, Hadith 515 [At-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan].
وعن أبي كريمة المقدام بن معديكرب رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول “ما ملأ آدمي وعاء شراً من بطن، بحسب ابن آدم أكلات يقمن صلبه، فإن كان لا محالة؛ فتلث لطعامه وثلث لشرابه، وثلث لنفسه". ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن)). "أكلات" أي: لقم.
When the stomach is full of food there will not be enough space for drinking. When one stomach, breathing will be laziness and fatigue. A person feels heavy, as if carrying a load on his stomach. Consequently, one will be lazy fulfilling his obligations and will seek other desires now that his stomach is full!
As Muslims, we fast for Allah (swt) and therefore focus on the spiritual benefits of fasting. But fasting in Ramadan also has untold physical benefits. Recent scientific studies show that it can regenerate the immune system, and might even boost the cancer-curing effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients undergoing treatment! It is also one of the most beneficial of remedies and most effective means of strengthening one’s body. Fasting plays an effective role in -
1.Psychological problems: Fasting
strengthens the will-power of the fasting person
softens his feelings
makes him love to do good and keep away from argumentative and hostile tendencies
increases his spiritual feelings
So it strengthens his personality and makes him more able to bear problems and burdens. Undoubtedly this is reflected positively in a person’s health.
2. Fasting also plays a role in treating many physical disorders such as diseases of the digestive system like gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, liver diseases and indigestion, as well as treating obesity, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, angina, asthma, etc.
3. Skin diseases: Fasting is also used to treat skin diseases
because if the amount of water in the blood is reduced, the amount of water in the skin is also reduced
It increases the skin’s impermeability and resistance to bacterial disease.
It reduces the extent of skin diseases that can spread over a large area of the body such as psoriasis.
It reduces allergies and other skin problems
reduces toxic secretions in the intestines and reduces the fermentation that can lead to ulcers
4. Diseases of the heart: Fasting is of great benefit in treating some diseases of the heart, because 10% of the blood that the heart pumps to the body goes to the digestive system during the digestive process; this amount is reduced during fasting, when the digestive process does not occur during the day. This means that the heart works less and can rest more.
5. Diseases of digestive system: Fasting allows the gut to cleanse and strengthens its lining. It can also stimulate a process called autophagy, which is where cells self-cleanse and remove damaged and dangerous particles.
6. Boost your Brain: No doubt you’ll be aware of the positive effects fasting can have on your mental wellbeing and spiritual focus, but the brain-boosting powers of Ramadan are even more significant than you might think. A study carried out by scientists in the USA found that the mental focus achieved during Ramadan
increases the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor
causes the body to produce more brain cells
improves brain function.
Likewise, a distinct reduction in the amount of the hormone cortisol, produced by the adrenal gland, means that stress levels are greatly reduced both during and after Ramadan.
7. Ditch Bad Habits : Because you will be fasting during the day, Ramadan is the perfect time to ditch your bad habits for good. Vices such as smoking and sugary foods should not be indulged during Ramadan, and as you abstain from them your body will gradually acclimatize to their absence, until your addiction is kicked for good.
It’s also much easier to quit habits when you do so in a group, which should be easy to find during Ramadan. Fasting’s ability to help you cut out bad habits is so significant that the UK’s National Health Service recommends it as the ideal time to ditch smoking.
8. Lower Cholesterol : We all know that weight loss is one of the possible physical outcomes of fasting during Ramadan, but there’s also a whole host of healthy changes going on behind the scenes. A team of cardiologists in the UAE found that people observing Ramadan enjoy a positive effect on their lipid profile, which means there is a reduction of cholesterol in the blood.
Low cholesterol increases cardiovascular health,
greatly reducing the risk of suffering from heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke.
What’s more, if you follow a healthy diet after Ramadan, this newly lowered cholesterol level should be easy to maintain.
9. Lasting Appetite Reduction : One of the main problems with extreme fad diets is that any weight lost is often quickly put back on, sometimes even with a little added extra. This isn’t the case with Ramadan. The reduction in food consumed throughout fasting causes your stomach to gradually shrink, meaning you’ll need to eat less food to feel full. If you want to get into the habit of healthy eating then Ramadan is a great time to start. When it’s finished your appetite will be lower than it was before, and you’ll be far less likely to overindulge with your eating.
10. Detoxify : As well as being great for spiritually cleansing yourself, Ramadan acts as a fantastic detox for your body. By not eating or drinking throughout the day your body will be offered the rare chance to detoxify your digestive system throughout the month. When your body starts eating into fat reserves to create energy, it will also burn away any harmful toxins that might be present in fat deposits. This body cleanse will leave a healthy blank slate behind, and is the perfect stepping stone to a consistently healthy lifestyle.
11. Absorb More Nutrients: By not eating throughout the day during Ramadan you’ll find that your metabolism becomes more efficient, meaning the amount of nutrients you absorb from food improves. This is because of an increase in a hormone called adiponectin, which is produced by a combination of fasting and eating late at night, and allows your muscles to absorb more nutrients. This will lead to health benefits all around the body, as various areas are able to better absorb and make use of the nutrients they need to function.
Moreover we fast in obedience to the command of Allah Who has enjoined us to fast, as Allah (swt) says: “O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183]
If Allah commanded us to kill ourselves we would do it in order to please our Lord, but we believe with certainty of faith that He would never command us to do anything but that which is in our best interests in this world and in the Hereafter.
Dates are also a great way of getting some much-needed fibre, which will aid and improve digestion throughout Ramadan. Add to that their high levels of potassium, magnesium and B vitamins, and it quickly becomes apparent that dates are one of the healthiest fruits out there. Although three dates are eaten at the start of Iftar every day during Ramadan for spiritual reasons, they also come with the added bonus of multiple health benefits. One of the most important aspects of fasting is getting the right amount of energy, and considering an average serving of dates contains 31 grams (just over 1 oz) of carbohydrates, this is one of the perfect foods to give you a boost.
Fasting is one of the most beneficial remedies and most effective means of strengthening one’s body. This is according to the testimony of non-Muslim doctors, let alone Muslim ones.
1. The Swiss doctor Barcellus wrote: The benefit of hunger as a remedy is many times better than using medicines. Doctor Helb used to forbid his patients to eat for several days, then he would offer them light meals. In general, fasting plays a role in destroying the worn-out tissues at the time of hunger, then rebuilds them when food is ingested. This is the reason why some scientists, including Pashutin, regard fasting as a means of restoring youth.
2. Tom Burns of the Columbia School of Journalism says: I regard fasting as an experience which is deeply spiritual more than physical. Despite the fact that I started to fast with the aim of losing excess weight, I realized that fasting is very beneficial for the mind. It helps me to see with greater clarity and to develop new thoughts and to focus my feelings. Within only a few days of starting my fast in the spa I began to feel that I was passing through a very spiritual experience.
3. The Encyclopaedia Britannica says: Most religions enjoin fasting and it is something that people used to do even at times other than religious occasions; some individuals fast in response to human nature.
In the twentieth century a number of books appeared in America and Europe which spoke of the medical benefits of fasting. There was:
Treating sickness by fasting by Shelton
Medical Fasting: The Ideal Nutritional System by Alan Coutt
Fasting, the Elixir of Life by Enrique Tanner
Return to a Healthy Life through Medical Fasting by Watzener
Of course fasting may be harmful and extremely difficult for some people in certain situations; Allah has exempted them from fasting – such as those who are sick and those who are traveling.
Moreover the benefits of fasting come when one adheres to the etiquette of fasting, such as delaying suhoor, hastening to break the fast, not being extravagant in the manner or amount of food eaten, and avoiding being extravagant in serving a large variety of foods.
Rest Allah knows best.
Source: Quran, Sunnah, Islam QA, Google Scholar, Research Journals, Healing With The Medicine of Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allah be Upon Him). By: Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim Al Jauziyyah. Translated By: Jalal Abu Al Rub.