Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from dawn (Sahour) to sunset (Iftar). It is the month in which Muslim faithful desist from eating, drinking and having sexual relations from dawn until sunset.
Fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility and spirituality.
Ramadan is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of Allah (God) and to offer more prayers than usual. During the period, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.
As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards about 11 days each year, depending on the moon. Muslims believe Ramadan to be a favourable or promising month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.
During this period, the elderly, the sick, and the mentally ill are exempted from the fasting exercise. Also exempted are the pregnant women, menstruating women, and nursing mothers. In some Muslim communities, people who miss the fasting portion of Ramadan are expected to compensate by feeding the poor and less privileged during suhoor and iftar.
Aside the religious aspects of Ramadan, there are also a couple of health benefits people gain while fasting.
Fasting promotes body purification. Processed foods contain lots of additives, which may become toxins in the body. Some of these toxins promote ageing. Most of these toxins are stored in fats. Fat is burnt during fasting, especially when it is prolonged. And the toxins are released. The liver, kidneys and other organs in the body are involved in detoxification.
During fasting, the digestive organs rest. The normal physiological functions continue, especially production of digestive secretions, but at reduced rates. This exercise helps to maintain balance of fluids in the body.
Breakdown of food takes place at steady rates. Release of energy also follows a gradual pattern. Fasting, however, does not stop production of acids in the stomach. This is the reason patients with peptic ulcer are advised to approach fasting with caution. Some experts believe they should not fast.
Fasting resolves inflammatory response, promotes resolution of inflammatory diseases and allergies. Examples of such inflammatory diseases are rheumatoid arthritis and skin diseases such as psoriasis. Some experts assert that fasting may promote healing of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis.
Blood sugar is reduced by fasting, which increases breakdown of glucose, so that the body can get energy.
Fasting reduces production of insulin, and this rests the pancreas. It increases fat breakdown. The first response of the body to fasting is breakdown of glucose. When the store of glucose is exhausted, ketosis (breakdown of fats to release energy) begins. The fats stored in the kidney and muscles are broken down to release energy.
High blood pressure is reduced through fasting, which is one of the non-drug methods of reducing blood pressure. Fasting helps to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis (clogging of arteries by fat particles). During fasting, glucose (and later fat) stores are used to produce energy. Metabolic rate is also reduced during fasting. The fear-flight hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline are also reduced. This keeps the metabolic steady and within limits. The benefit is a reduction in blood pressure.
Fasting promotes weight loss by reducing the store of fats in the body. However, it is not a good weight loss strategy. Reducing fat and sugar intake, and increasing fruits and rest, are better measures to achieve weight reduction.
Therefore, enjoy fasting with these suggested meals for the season:
Take more of fats and proteins in the morning before fast. They do not digest in time. Foods like moin moin, fried egg and fries, bread and sausage or bacon, beans and pap and lots more.
No matter how hungry and eager you are to break your fast, do not eat anything heavy in the evening, and take a light meal like semolina and vegetables.
It is not only religious to take fruit when ending your fast; it is also an appetiser, which opens your stomach for food while nourishing your body too.
Fast and feed well.
