Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar has began. It involves abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual relations from dawn to sunset, in the hopes that it will lead to greater “taqwa”, or consciousness of God.

Muslims were commanded to fast during Ramadan more than 1,400 years ago. The fasting help delivers many healthy benefits to us. some scientists are advocating a modified fast for its mental and physical benefits.

One common thing among all religions in the world is the ritual of fasting – for different reasons, at different times and in different quantities – but they all ask us to fast. Muslims have Ramzan, Hindus and Jains observe weekly fasts or on certain days of the year, and Christians fast during the 40-days of Lent. Other religions that practice fasting are Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, etc.

Health Benefits of Ramadan Fasting:

1. Fasting Is as Good as Physical Exercise for the Brain                                   Our bodies are used to being fed three whole meals a day and sometimes mid-day snacks. During a fast, our brain perceives the lack of timely food being pumped in, as a challenge. It overcomes this by adapting stress response pathways (that help the body cope with stress and risk), which leads to an increase in the production of proteinin our body. The protein helps in the growth of neurons and this chain reaction is similar to what our body experiences after regular physical exercise.

2. It Helps in Improving Memory Our bodies are used to being fed three whole meals a day and sometimes mid-day snacks. During a fast, our brain perceives the lack of timely food being pumped in, as a challenge. It overcomes this by adapting stress response pathways (that help the body cope with stress and risk), which leads to an increase in the production of proteinin our body. The protein helps in the growth of neurons and this chain reaction is similar to what our body experiences after regular physical exercise.

3. Gives You a Stronger Immune System                                                              Fasting kills old and damaged immune cells and gives way to new healthy cells. This happens because when your body receives less food, it tries to conserve energy and the best way to do so is to destroy cells that are not useful or are damaged.

4. Can Help Control Epileptic Seizures, Diabetes etc.                                         Patients are sometimes put on calorific restricted diets or fasts to help counter the over-excited signals of the brain that lead to seizures. From Sources, A 2008 study from Utah, has found that fasting can lower unhealthy cholesterol levels and kick-start metabolic changes, thus reducing the chance of heart-related diseases by almost 85%.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.