Daily Times

Worried that fasting during Ramazan will have a detrimental impact on health? Find out why the month-long religious culture can have some surprising health benefits.

Although millions around the world have successfully observed fasting in Ramazan for thousands of years, some people fear that fasting over such a long period of time will have detrimental effects on their health. If you are one of those worriers, then check out these seven health benefits you’ll enjoy during and after Ramazan.

As three dates are eaten at the start of Iftar every day during Ramazan 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 grammes of carbohydrates; this is one of the perfect foods to give you a boost.

Dates are also a great way of getting some much-needed fibre, which will aid and improve digestion throughout Ramazan. Add to that their high levels of potassium, magnesium and Vitamin B and it quickly becomes apparent that dates are one of the healthiest fruits out there.

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 Ramazan are even more significant than you might think. 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 Ramazan.

Because you will be fasting during the day, Ramazan is the perfect time to ditch your bad habits for good. Vices such as smoking and sugary foods should not be indulged in during Ramazan and as you abstain from themm your body will gradually acclimatise to their absence, until your addiction is kicked out for good.

It is also much easier to quit bad habits when you do so in a group, which should be easy to find during Ramazan. Ramazan’s ability to help you cut out bad habits is so significant that the United Kingdom’s National Health Service recommends it as the ideal time to ditch smoking.

We all know that weight loss is one of the possible physical outcomes of fasting during Ramazan, but there’s also a whole host of healthy changes going on behind the scenes. A team of cardiologists in the United Arab Emirates found that people observing Ramazan 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.

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 Ramazan. 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 Ramazan 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.

As well as being great for spiritually cleansing yourself, Ramazan acts as a fantastic detox for your body.

The writer can be reached at sarfirazs032121@gmail.com