Well Ramadan has already come and we have only few weeks remaining! How quickly does something you love go when it has just arrived?
Millions of people overeat, and common health problems like diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol issues, heart disease and even cancer can be caused by this overload to your system. Fasting is all about restricting your dietary intake to liquids only. Fruit juice, tea, and water are the most common liquids for fasting. Some people take special supplements or eat limited kinds of food, while others swear off everything until they drop those extra pounds
There has been much contention in the scientific field about whether or not fasting is beneficial to one's health. Fasting is an integral part of many of the major religions including Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Many are dubious as to whether the physiological effects are as beneficial as the spiritual promoted by these religions. There is a significant community of alternative healers who believe that fasting can do wonders for the human body
Fasting technically commences within the first twelve to twenty-four hours of the fast. A fast does not chemically begin until the carbohydrate stores in the body begin to be used as an energy source. The fast will continue as long as fat and carbohydrate stores are used for energy, as opposed to protein stores. Once protein stores begin to be depleted for energy (resulting in loss of muscle mass) a person is technically starving.
For us who fast, we know how we benefit from the yearly abstinence. However now we see that the rest of the world has found evidence to support what we have known all our lives.
The benefits of fasting must be preceded by a look at the body's progression when deprived of food. Due to the lack of incoming energy, the body must turn to its own resources, a function called autolysis. Autolysis is the breaking down of fat stores in the body in order to produce energy. The liver is in charge of converting the fats into a chemical called a ketone body, "the metabolic substances acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyric acid”, and then distributing these bodies throughout the body via the blood stream. "When this fat utilization occurs, free fatty acids are released into the blood stream and are used by the liver for energy.”. The less one eats, the more the body turns to these stored fats and creates these ketone bodies, the accumulation of which is referred to as ketosis.
Of course fasting has many benefit not least medical and physical ones, it is not these reasons why we fast. Fasting brings about Taqwa, fear of Allah and realization of His blessing that He has bestowed upon us. By fasting we empathize and sympathize with the one who have no food, or drink as well as those who cannot get married or those who cannot be with their spouses. In this blessed month we have the opportunity to overcome Shaitan and his hole he has on us, this month is the time we can put into practice the template of belief we want to achieve... so achieve it what you waiting for!!!
Allah has blessed His slaves with certain seasons of goodness, in which Hasanaat (rewards for good deeds) are multiplied, sayi’aat (bad deeds) are forgiven, people’s status is raised, the hearts of the believers turn to their Master, those who purify themselves attain success and those who corrupt themselves fail. Allah has created His slaves to worship Him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “And I (Allah) created not the jinn’s and humans except that they should worship Me (Alone).”
Is fasting beneficial for human health?
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the basic religious duties of Muslims. In the past it was thought that the benefits of fasting were limited to spiritual and emotional effects. However, recent studies indicate that a person can benefit in many physical and psychological ways from fasting. The studies reveal that the body’s immune system, blood circulation, digestive organs, reproductive and urinary systems as well as the heart may all benefit from fasting.
Many Muslims think that fasting has a detrimental effect on their physical performance. Such thinking has led many Islamic countries to decrease working hours during Ramadan.
But a new U.S. study conducted by the Institute of Islamic Medicine for Education and Research in Panama City, Florida has proven that fasting does not have a negative effect on the muscles or on physical performance. Nor does it necessarily result in tiredness or lethargy.
The study concluded that there is in fact an improvement in the body’s ability to bear physical and muscular effort and the performance of the heart is also said to improve. The study monitored the physical performance of 20 healthy people, including 12 males and 8 females, before and during fasting. The participant’s ages ranged from 12 to 52 years old.
The study found that participants’ heart rates decreased from 170 beats per minute before fasting to 159 per minute while fasting. That suggests a 6 percent improvement in heart rate. Moreover, a significant improvement in blood pressure was also recorded.
The study also found that participants noticed less breathing difficulties during Ramadan, and felt less tiredness in the legs when exercising. Muscle performance was also said to improve.
Various other studies have shown that fasting increases the amount of free fatty acids in the blood, which aside from glucose are the body’s main source of energy. Fatty acids help to reduce the depletion of glycogen in the liver and muscles during exercise, and prevent the depletion of glucose in blood. Under the normal conditions, glucose is the main source of energy. However, physical effort forces the body to use up glucose quickly, leaving a person feeling tired and exhausted.
The body’s dependence on glucose decreases during fasting since sufficient quantities of amino acids are available in the blood to supply the body with energy. The result of this is an improvement in overall muscle performance.
Another recent study, prepared by Dr. Jad al-Maula Abdul-Aziz, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Cairo University, concluded that fasting helps to eliminate about 35 percent of the toxins that accumulate in the body during our normal activities such as eating and breathing. Fasting helps to reduce these harmful toxins and in so doing protects the body’s cells from diseases and delays aging.
Another scientific study shows that fasting helps to regulate the blood pressure. Dr. Ibrahim Hamed, researcher in the Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, at the National Research Center in Cairo, concluded that fasting is an effective treatment for patients suffering from arteriosclerosis, characterized by the hardening of plaque-covered arteries. During a period of fasting, which continues for more than 12 hours a day, the digestive system has nothing to do and thus stops working. This prevents the blood from gathering around the stomach and intestines and allows the circulatory system to flow freely and regularly, which as a side effect may reduce pain caused by arteriosclerosis.
He added that during a period of fasting, the body burns any stored fats in the body and converts them to energy. This, it has been found, reduces the possibility of infecting healthy people with arteriosclerosis.
There has been much contention in the scientific field about whether or not fasting is beneficial to one's health. Fasting is an integral part of many of the major religions including Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Many are dubious as to whether the physiological effects are as beneficial as the spiritual promoted by these religions. There is a significant community of alternative healers who believe that fasting can do wonders for the human body.
It sets our body clock if done regularly for a month. Being a Muslim i can say that Since Muslims fast from dawn to dusk everyday and eat at fixed times this helps the body to detoxify and rejuvenates better than other types of skipping meals whatsoever. Moreover fasting is prescribed by Allah the Almighty the creator who has more knowledge of his creations than anyone in this universe. So follow his commands and be healthy physically and spiritually, for doing this all one needs is determination.
If a person does not avoid false talk and false conduct during Fasting, then Allah (God) does not care if he abstains from food and drink.
(Prophet Muhammad as reported by Bukhari & Muslim)
Still here (http://islamicchildrenstudy.blogspot.com) He!He!He! Just joking
Make dua at times where your duas are most likely to be answered – before breaking the fast, during your Salah, Qiyam ul layl, the last 10 nights etc. May Allah answer and grant all of your duas. Please make dua for me too!
The benefits of fasting must be preceded by a look at the body's progression when deprived of food. Due to the lack of incoming energy, the body must turn to its own resources, a function called autolysis. Autolysis is the breaking down of fat stores in the body in order to produce energy. The liver is in charge of converting the fats into a chemical called a ketone body, "the metabolic substances acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyric acid”, and then distributing these bodies throughout the body via the blood stream. "When this fat utilization occurs, free fatty acids are released into the blood stream and are used by the liver for energy." The less one eats, the more the body turns to these stored fats and creates these ketone bodies, the accumulation of which is referred to as ketosis.
Detoxification is the foremost argument presented by advocates of fasting. "Detoxification is a normal body process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph glands, and skin.”. This process is precipitated by fasting because when food is no longer entering the body, the body turns to fat reserves for energy. "Human fat is valued at 3,500 calories per pound," a number that would lead one to believe that surviving on one pound of fat every day would provide a body with enough energy to function normally. These fat reserves were created when excess glucose and carbohydrates were not used for energy or growth, not excreted, and therefore converted into fat. When the fat reserves are used for energy during a fast, it releases the chemicals from the fatty acids into the system which are then eliminated through the aforementioned organs. Chemicals not found in food but absorbed from one's environment, such as DDT, are also stored in fat reserves that may be released during a fast. One fasting advocate tested his own urine, feces and sweat during an extended fast and found traces of DDT in each.
A second prescribed benefit of fasting is the healing process that begins in the body during a fast. During a fast energy is diverted away from the digestive system due to its lack of use and towards the metabolism and immune system. The healing process during a fast is precipitated by the body's search for energy sources. Abnormal growths within the body, tumors and the like, do not have the full support of the body's supplies and therefore are more susceptible to autolysis. Furthermore, "production of protein for replacement of damaged cells (protein synthesis) occurs more efficiently because fewer 'mistakes' are made by the DNA/RNA genetic controls which govern this process." A higher efficiency in protein synthesis results in healthier cells, tissues and organs. This is one reason that animals stop eating when they are wounded, and why humans lose hunger during influenza. Hunger has been proven absent in illnesses such as gastritis, tonsillitis and colds. Therefore, when one is fasting, the person is consciously diverting energy from the digestive system to the immune system.
In addition, there is a reduction in core body temperature. This is a direct result of the slower metabolic rate and general bodily functions. Following a drop in blood sugar level and using the reserves of glucose found in liver glycogen, the basal metabolic rate (BMR) is reduced in order to conserve as much energy within the body as can be provided. Growth hormones are also released during a fast, due to the greater efficiency in hormone production.
Finally, the most scientifically proven advantage to fasting is the feeling of rejuvenation and extended life expectancy. Part of this phenomenon is caused by a number of the benefits mentioned above. A slower metabolic rate, more efficient protein production, an improved immune system, and the increased production of hormones contributes to this long-term benefit of fasting. In addition to the Human Growth Hormone that is released more frequently during a fast, an anti-aging hormone is also produced more efficiently. "The only reliable way to extend the lifespan of a mammal is under-nutrition without malnutrition." A study was performed on earthworms that demonstrated the extension of life due to fasting. The experiment was performed in the 1930s by isolating one worm and putting it on a cycle of fasting and feeding. The isolated worm outlasted its relatives by 19 generations, while still maintaining its youthful physiological traits. The worm was able to survive on its own tissue for months. Once the size of the worm began to decrease, the scientists would resume feeding it at which point it showed great vigor and energy. "The life-span extension of these worms was the equivalent of keeping a man alive for 600 to 700 years."
In conclusion, it seems that there are many reasons to consider fasting as a benefit to one's health. The body rids itself of the toxins that have built up in our fat stores throughout the years. The body heals itself, repairs all the damaged organs during a fast. And finally there is good evidence to show that regulated fasting contributes to longer life. However, many doctors warn against fasting for extended periods of time without supervision. There are still many doctors today who deny all of these points and claim that fasting is detrimental to one's health and have evidence to back their statements. The idea of depriving a body of what society has come to view as so essential to our survival in order to heal continues to be a topic of controversy.
When properly utilized, fasting is a safe and effective means of maximizing the body’s self-healing capacities. The results can be truly amazing
May Allah grant us all a life changing Ramadan this YEAR? Ameen!
"Have fun praying and getting ready for the Day of Judgment coz that day will NOT be fun :) P.S.: don’t forget to make dua for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment