In Ramadan we skip lunch and take an early breakfast. We do not eat anything till evening or Maghrib. Abstinence from water for 12 or so hours is not necessarily bad for health and in fact, it causes concentration of all fluids within the body, producing slight dehydration.
The body has its own water conservation mechanism. It has been shown that slight dehydration and water conservation, at least in plant life, improve their longevity.
The physiological effect of fasting includes lowering of blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood pressure.
In fact, Ramadan fasting would be an ideal recommendation for the treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity, and essential hypertension.
In fact, fasting is an additional safety device for the regenerative processes of the body. The repair processes of the body and the brain, including the memory molecules take place when the body is at rest, especially during the stage of deep sleep.
During fasting, serum magnesium is increased and Magnesium has cardio-protective effects and it is being used in prevention and treatment of heart attacks. It has anti-platelet properties and prevents extension of the clot.
It is a membrane stabilizer acting on the sodium/potassium/ calcium flux at the membrane level. Hence, it prevents cardiac and cerebral dysrhythmias. Fasting,through the beneficial effects of magnesium, prevents the formation of atheromaas well as dissolves atheromatous plaques which are responsible for heart attacks and strokes.
It increases the fibrinolytic activity of the blood, which leads to prevention and also dissolution of any recent clot.
During the exercise of fasting, prayers and different spiritual experiences of Ramadan, certain endogenous substances are released by the brain and spinalcord into the body called opioids, which include enkephalins and endorphins.
There are psychological effects of fasting as well. There is a peace and tranquility for those who fast during the month of Ramadan. Personal hostility is at a minimum, and the crime rate decreases. Aggression across borders in some countries is at a stand-still due to Ramadan.
Muslims take advice from the Prophet (saw) who said, “If one slanders you or aggresses against you, say I am fasting.”
The goal of fasting is to teach patience, discipline, modesty and spirituality. Whoever is observing a lengthy period of fasting must stay healthy, eat wisely and sleep enough.
