Fasting has physical, psychological benefits

[Naveed Yaseen]

Muhammad Qasim
Health experts believe that fasting by a healthy person has physical, spiritual and psychological benefits and also brings a wholesome physiological rest for the digestive tract, central nervous system and normalises metabolism in the body.

“Fasting gives complete rest to stomach, intestines and colon and enables them to repair damaged structures as piles, inflammation of colon and stomach etc speedily recover under the fast,” said Head of Community Medicine at Islamabad Medical & Dental College, Islamabad Colonel ® Professor Dr Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry while talking to ‘The News’ on what role fasting during Ramazan can play on management of health.

The alimentary tract becomes practically free of bacteria during fast and the small intestine becomes sterile. The process of decomposing and eliminating waste toxic materials by means of Islamic fasting improves and it can help to cure cardiovascular and circulatory diseases, diseases of the digestive system, diseases of the locomotor system, including rheumatism, respiratory system diseases including asthma, and the early stages of malignant cancer, he said.

Dr Ashraf further said that due to fasting, all mucus diseases such as colds, sinus and bronchial troubles are rapidly dissolved and eliminated from the body, leaving the user from the varied allergies. “As metabolism is improved through fasting, the body recuperates the capability to assimilate proteins, fats, carbohydrates, starches, sugars, minerals, vitamins and all other essential nutrients because all organs work properly during and after fasting.”

To a query, he said that fasting helps eliminating skin problems. “However, to keep your skin fresh, healthy and smooth during Ramazan, you need a well balanced and a healthy diet, plenty of water, adequate sleep, exercise and no smoking at all,” he said.

Talking about the physiological effects of fasting, he said it lowers blood sugar, cholesterol and systolic blood pressure. “In fact, fasting in Ramazan would be an ideal recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and essential hypertension,” he suggested.

He, however, added that patients with diabetes having higher levels of sugar in their blood should not fast without having advice from doctor. “Similarly patients with stomach ulcer should fast after taking doctor’s advice.”

Talking of fasting by patients of hepatitis B or C, he said they must consult their physicians before going for fasting while patients who have developed complications of hepatitis B or C should not fast at all.

Dr. Ashraf is of the view that under normal conditions, fasting for pregnant women or lactating mothers poses no immediate threat. “However, lactating mothers should double their water intake at ‘Sehri’ and ‘Iftar’ times if going for fasting. It is still better if they can get their doctor’s advice before fasting.”

On fasting among children, he said generally fasting below 10 years of age is not recommended medically as children have smaller reserves in their body and it might cause growth-related problems in them.

“Fasting is a natural way to normalise our body weight. Fasting dissolves all unnecessary and unnatural fats deposits in the body. Those who fast look younger than those who don’t. Fasting restores youthfulness and longevity. There is a beneficial effect of extra prayer (travih) at weight. This not only helps with better utilisation of food but also helps in energy output,” he said.

Talking of the psychological effects of fasting, he said it provides peace of mind and tranquillity. “Fasting causes extreme reduction in personal hostility and the crime rate in Muslim countries falls during the month of Ramazan,” he said and added that fasting conquering anger promotes the concept of real tolerance.

He advised Muslims to remain cool particularly while struck in traffic. “Instead of cursing others, take out your ‘tasbeh’ and recite the ‘kalma’ or ‘durood sharif’ and this would soothe your nerves and also bring the blessings of Allah.”

Relating spiritual benefits with medical ones, Dr Ashraf said that recitation of Holy Quran not only produces a tranquillity of heart and mind, but improves memory. “This psychological improvement could be related to better stabilisation of blood glucose during fasting. Diabetics know that stress increases the blood glucose by increasing catecholamine level and any tool to lower stress that is biofeedback or relaxation improves diabetic control. Thus, Islamic fasting during the Ramazan should have a potentially beneficial effect with regard to diabetic control.”

Responding to a query, he said that fasting can help people to break addictions to harmful substances like tobacco, drugs, alcohol, tea, coffee and other habit-forming beverages. “Ramazan fasting is actually an exercise in self-discipline. For those who are chain smokers or who nibble food constantly, or drink coffee or tea every hour, fasting is good to break the habit.”

On dietary habits during Ramazan, Dr Ashraf said that in order to get full benefits of fasting in Ramazan, one should eat healthy diet in ‘Iftar’ and ‘Sehar’ such as ‘fruit chaat’, ‘vegetable salads’, along with macaronis; simple ‘chapatti’, whole wheat bread, pulses, fish, poultry, milk, yoghurt, dates, juices, soups, boiled rice, potatoes, and peas etc and should avoid unhealthy diet such as deep-fried foods including ‘samosas’, ‘pakoras’, ‘kachoris’, ‘jalabis’, and ‘parathas’, excessive usage of spices, tea, coffee, cola or other beverages etc because all these foods increase your blood Low Density Lipoproteins (bad cholesterol) which is bad for your health and for your heart.

“Limit the amount of sweet food. Consuming of excessive amounts of food during ‘Sehri’, or ‘Iftar’, meals is a dangerous practice. Instead, it is advisable to have a modest dinner around one to one-and-a-half hours after ‘Iftar’, but not later. Delaying dinner until the very end of the night is a dangerous practice, and it is important to finish eating at least two hours before going to bed,” advised Dr Ashraf.

He suggested that one should drink as much water as possible between ‘Iftar’, and bedtime and at least 3-4 glasses of water at ‘Sehr’. “People should try to avoid exposure to sun while fasting,” concluded Dr Ashraf.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=196378