Have a happy and healthy Ramadan

The health benefits of Ramadan

For Muslims around the world, the Holy month of Ramadan is a special time of spirituality, self-improvement, and reflection. The practice of fasting from dawn to dusk is one of the key pillars of Islam, bringing Muslims closer to Allah and their loved ones. Alongside spiritual wellness, there are other health benefits to this holy month.

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Benefits of fasting

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is a mindful act that encourages self-discipline, empathy, generosity, and many other positive qualities. Although you're fasting for your religion and not your health, in the last 10-15 years scientific research has been shedding more light on the many ways this act can benefit for you.

The bulk of this research is focused on intermittent fasting, a style of fasting that also describes the Ramadan ritual - not eating for a prolonged, set period each day and restricting food to scheduled times.

There's now strong evidence that this flips the metabolic switch - routinely changes how your body uses up energy - and that this triggers reactions in your body that may boost your mental and physical health, including better resistance to diseases such as¹:

• Obesity.

• Type 2 diabetes.

• Heart disease.

• Degenerative brain diseases.

This field of research is making new discoveries all the time, and ongoing trials are also looking into intermittent fasting for cancer, asthma, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. The positive effects of this fasting style are significant and research is now identifying a trend between intermittent fasting and living for longer¹.

Aids weight loss

When you are fasting intermittently, your body becomes more efficient at burning energy. Studies of weight loss during Ramadan show that many people end the holy month with less fat² and slimmer waists³. This is important because a large waist circumference increases your risk of several problems, like coronary heart disease and diabetes.

Improves heart health

The way that your body uses energy during metabolic switching has also been shown to lower high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and heart rate¹. In turn, this lowers your risk of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, obesity, and type 2 diabetes⁴.

Helps to manage or prevent type 2 diabetes

One of the most researched benefits of Ramadan fasting is reduced insulin resistance. This means that your cells become better at controlling the amount of sugar in your blood - called your blood glucose levels - which helps prevent or manage type 2 diabetes.

However, results are mixed and more research is needed to better understand how Ramadan fasting effects insulin sensitivity⁵.

Boosts brain health

Scientists are also finding that daily calorie restriction could be good for your brain, because it boosts the production of new brain cells. Long-term, this may significantly improve memory⁶ and even slow the progress of age-related neurological diseases⁷.

Although Ramadan fasting is temporary, evidence shows that brain cells still increase over this short period, suggesting benefits can be experienced in the short-term⁸.

Supports physical fitness

Intermittent fasting can trigger your body to use energy more efficiently and this can have noticeable physical benefits. For example, some people doing this fasting pattern have found that they have better endurance while running¹.

Benefits of traditional food

The kind of foods you eat before dawn (suhoor) and after sunset (iftar) will vary depending on where you are in the world, but healthy eating in Ramadan is possible - there are some widespread favourites packed with nutrients that can support you during fasting hours.

Knowing how these foods keep you going during Ramadan can help you to keep choosing healthier options during suhoor and iftar.

Some of the healthiest options include:

Dates

These nutritious sun-dried fruits are customary because they were one of Prophet Muhammad's most desired foods. Dates are packed with carbs, fibre, and important vitamins and minerals that boost energy levels, support the digestive system, and improve brain, nerve, and muscle function.

Fresh fruit

Healthy eating in Ramadan often involves plenty of fresh fruit. These help to load you with vitamins and rehydrates you in between fasting hours. Popular fruits during suhoor and iftar include:

• Melons - 90% water and great for relieving tummy ache and other stomach problems.

• Pomegranate seeds - contain antioxidants and important vitamins, and aids digestion.

• Bananas - easy to digest and a great source of energy.

Fish and chicken

Unprocessed, non-fatty, and high-protein meats like fish and chicken help to make your dishes filling yet light.

Trying to digest a heavy meal throughout the day can make you feel more groggy and tired, and could cause stomach problems like acid reflux, gas, and bloating. Fish is also high in omega-3 fatty acids which can keep your brain sharp and mood up.

Lentils

Lentils add bulk to a variety of popular Ramadan dishes - including soups and dhals - and are packed with protein, fibre, and complex carbs to help you burn energy slowly throughout the day. They also feed your gut with good bacteria and can lower cholesterol and blood sugar.

Benefits of habit breaking

Because you will be fasting for a month, Ramadan is the perfect time to ditch any bad habits for good, like smoking and sugary food. It might feel like a whole other challenge to refrain from smoking once it's no longer a religious observation, but research does indicate that many Muslims find it easier to control their long-term cravings post-Ramadan.

Benefits of family time

Sharing in the rituals and traditions with your family and friends can create a real sense of togetherness - one of the most obvious benefits of Ramadan. This is especially important if fasting becomes challenging.

Smriti Joshi, a lead psychologist at Wysa, says: "For some, the thought of not being able to follow or stick to fasting during this holy month can bring up difficult feelings like sadness, shame, and embarrassment."

However, there are plenty of Holy month activities that bring families together - perhaps more than any other time in some households - and these moments can be really special and fulfilling. They can be a powerful counter measure to the fear of isolation, which Joshi says can be a real mental health risk during fasting.

Make this Ramadan a healthy and happy one

We've looked at how Ramadan can nurture both body and mind. What else can you do to make this Ramadan your happiest yet?

Further reading

1. Mattson and de cabo: Effects of intermittent fasting on health, aging, and disease.

2. Fernando et al: Effect of Ramadan fasting on weight and body composition in healthy non-athlete adults.

3. Faris et al: Impact of Ramadan diurnal intermittent fasting on the metabolic syndrome components in healthy, non-athletic Muslim people aged over 15 years.

4. Malinowski et al: Intermittent fasting in cardiovascular disorders.

5. Hoddy et al: Intermittent fasting and metabolic health: from religious fast to time-restricted feeding.

6. Leclerc et al: The effect of caloric restriction on working memory in healthy non-obese adults.

7. Khedkar: Intermittent fasting - the new lifestyle?

8. Bastani et al: The effects of fasting during Ramadan on the concentration of serotonin, dopamine, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor.

9. Ismail et al: The effect of faith-based smoking cessation intervention during Ramadan among Malay smokers.