8 Health Benefits of Fasting
Holy month of Ramzan is approaching. May Allah Almighty enters all of us to this month. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also used to start praying in the month of Sha’aban to enter into Ramzan. Ramzan and Quran are strongly associated with each other. Quran started revealing in this month and Fasting became obligatory to all Muslims as it is mentioned in the Holy Book:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْٓ اُنْزِلَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنُ ھُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَيِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدٰى وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۭ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيْضًا اَوْ عَلٰي سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ اَيَّامٍ اُخَرَ ۭ يُرِيْدُ اللّٰهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيْدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ۡ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللّٰهَ عَلٰي مَا ھَدٰىكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ ١٨٥
Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was sent down : this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of clear teachings which show the right way and are a criterion of Truth and falsehood. Therefore from now on whoever witnesses it, it is obligatory on hire to fast the whole month, but if one be ill or on a journey, he should make up for the same number by fasting on other days. Allah desires to show leniency to you and does not desire to show any hardship. “therefore this method is being shown to you so that you may complete the number of Fast days and glorify Allah for the Guidance He has shown to you and be grateful to Him.
(Holy Quran 2:185)
Many of us are curious about their health in this blessed month while fasting. Qura Online, an online Quran academy, has prepared a list of “Medical Benefits of Fasting” for our followers. This article helps to understand how fasting improves our health.
1. Controls Diabetes:
Fasting helps to control diabetes by lowering down blood sugar level and use those sugar molecule to get energy during whole day work. Fasting prevents to accumulate glucose and diabetes.
2. Boosts Immunity:
During fast our body eliminates toxins and breakdown fats that helps to reduce the excess fats of our body, our immune system become more efficient and work more rapidly against diseases. In Iftar intake of fruits can boost up immunity because fruits contain a good amount of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that helps the immune system properly and efficiently.
3. Reduces stress:
Researches revel that fasting person body naturally releases some specific type of hormone named “endorphins” that creates happiness and lower down the level of stress, depression and anxiety.
4. Lowers cholesterol:
“A little starvation can really do more for the average sick man than can the best medicines and the best doctors”. Mark Twain
Studies show that the simplest way to lower down the cholesterol level is fasting.
So people who are afraid about heart attacks, strokes and high cholesterol, Why not trying fasting for the best health and lower down the risk of heart attacks.
5. Loses weight:
When fasting person skips meals for a specific period of time, excessive fats accumulated in human body breakdown to provide energy and become power source to do daily routine work. Fasting prevents the accumulation of excessive fats and calories and those fats hardly convert into mature fats that cause increase in weight.
So, if you want to lose your weight and get into shape in this summer, Ramadan is here to help you stay healthier.
But be careful about your intakes in Iftar, avoid oily and fried food. Use fiber enriched food; fresh fruit juices are best to hydrate you. Use low calories food and avoid soft drinks.
6. Improves cardiovascular functions:
Researches and studies shows that fasting increase good “HDL” levels by 14.3% that protect heart from cardiovascular diseases and improve the cardiovascular functions. And also lower down bad “LDL” cholesterol levels by 8%, triglyceride by 30% to prevent heart disease.
7. Induces anti-aging process:
According to latest research fasting triggers a molecule in our arteries that molecule delays our aging process. So, if you want to look younger without puting too much efforts and products then fasting is the best solution ever.
8. Normalizes blood pressure:
Fasting normalize your insulin/leptin sensitivity. If a person follows a full dietary plan according to his blood pressure level and take organic food. They should avoid sugar particularly fructose.
In 2010 a study show that people who consumed 74 gram or more per day of Fructose had 77% greater chances of risk of having blood pressure issue.
To maintain your blood pressure to normal level avoid intake of sugar contained drinks and foods in Iftar and Sehar.
These magical benefits of fasting help you to stay healthier and fresh during all Ramadan.
As Ramzan is the month of Quran, every Muslim should strive to focus on Quran by reading and understanding it. Qura Online has planned special courses for this month to read Quran online or learn Quran online with Tajweed, Translation and Tafseer. Visit our courses pages for more details and Ramzan offers.