2024-03-12 04:36:33
Every year, millions of Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for thirty days during the month of Ramadan.
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The month of Ramadan occurred during the summer months in the past few years in the northern hemisphere.
But this year, Ramadan comes in the spring, as the crescent of the holy month appears on March 11 or 12.
This means that the days are shorter and fasting from dawn to sunset may last from 12 to 17 hours a day in some countries, depending on where you are in the world.
Could this be good for your health? Below we will explain to you what happens in your body during fasting for thirty days.
The hardest part of the fasting experience is during the first days of Ramadan.
In practice, your body does not enter “fasting mode” until eight hours have passed since your last meal.
This time is approximately equal to the time it takes the digestive tract to absorb nutrients from food.
Immediately following these hours pass, our bodies turn to absorbing the glucose stored in the liver and muscles to derive energy from them.
Then during fasting, glucose stores run out and fat replaces it as a source of energy that the body needs.
When the body begins to burn fat, this helps in losing weight, reducing cholesterol levels, and reducing the risk of diabetes.
However, low blood sugar causes weakness and lethargy.
You may experience headache, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath.
This often happens when your hunger reaches its most severe levels.
Beware of dehydration – days 3 to 7
When the body begins to get used to fasting, fats are broken down and turned into blood sugar.
The fluids that the body loses during fasting must be replaced, otherwise sweating may lead to dehydration.
Meals should contain high levels of “energy foods” such as carbohydrates and fats.
It is important to have a balanced diet that contains proteins, salts, and water.
Getting used to it – days 8-15
By reaching the third stage, you should feel an improvement in your mood, as your body begins to adapt to fasting.
Razeen Mahrouf, consultant in anesthesia and intensive care medicine at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, said that there are also other advantages to fasting.
He added: “On normal days, we eat food that contains large amounts of calories, which may prevent the body from performing other tasks, such as repairing itself.”
He continued: “This is corrected during fasting, allowing the body to shift its attention to other functions.”
Therefore, fasting may benefit the body by facilitating recovery from diseases and fighting infections.
Detox – Days 16 to 30
In the second half of Ramadan, your body will adapt to the fasting process completely.
The colon, liver, kidneys, and skin also go through a period of detoxification.
Mahroof said: “With regard to the health condition, at this stage the body’s organs should regain their maximum capabilities. “You may also feel better in your memory and concentration, and you may have more energy.”
He added: “Your body should not turn to proteins for energy. “This happens when the body enters ‘starvation’ mode and begins using muscles to obtain energy, which is what happens when fasting continuously for an extended period of several days to weeks.”
He continued: “As fasting extends only from dawn to sunset, the fasting person has sufficient opportunity to recharge our energy following we supply the body with food and fluids. This works to preserve muscle, but it also helps to lose weight.”
So, is fasting good for our health?
Mahroof said that it is beneficial for health, but on one condition.
The British doctor said: “Fasting is beneficial for our health because it helps us focus on what to eat and when to eat it. However, while fasting for a month is considered a good period, it is not recommended to fast for longer than that.”
He added: “Continuous fasting is not good for losing weight in the long term, because the body will eventually stop converting fat into energy, and instead it turns into muscle.”
This is unhealthy and means your body will go into “starvation” mode.
Mahroof suggested that occasional fasting – (on normal days other than the month of Ramadan) or known as the “5:2 diet”, which means fasting for several days a week interspersed with other days of eating healthy food – may be a healthier alternative to fasting continuously for a long period.
He pointed out that “Ramadan fasting, if done in the correct manner, should replenish the body’s energy daily, which may mean that you may lose weight without the body burning valuable muscle tissue.”
Responsibility for the news: The Cedar News website is not responsible for this news, in form or content, and it only expresses the point of view of its source or writer.
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