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By Shahid Athar, M.D.
Most Muslims do not
fast because of medical benefits but because it has been
ordained to them in the Quran. The medical benefits of
fasting are as a result of fasting. Fasting in general
has been used in medicine for medical reasons including
weight management, for rest of the digestive tract and
for lowering lipids. There are many adverse effects of
total fasting as well as so-called crash diets. Islamic
fasting is different from such diet plans because in
Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate
calorie intake. The caloric intake of Muslims during
Ramadan is at or slightly below the national requirement
guidelines. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is
voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition
from the physician.
Ramadan is a month
of self-regulation and self-training, with the hope that
this training will last beyond the end of Ramadan. If
the lessons learned during Ramadan, whether in terms of
dietary intake or righteousness, are carried on after
Ramadan, it is beneficial for one's entire life.
Moreover, the type of food taken during Ramadan does not
have any selective criteria of crash diets such as those
which are protein only or fruit only type diets.
Everything that is permissible is taken in moderate
quantities.
The only difference
between Ramadan and total fasting is the timing of the
food; during Ramadan, we basically miss lunch and take
an early breakfast and do not eat until dusk.
Abstinence from water during this period is not bad at
all and in fact, it causes concentration of all fluids
within the body, producing slight dehydration. The body
has its own water conservation mechanism; in fact, it
has been shown that slight dehydration and water
conservation, at least in plant life, improve their
longevity.
The physiological
effect of fasting includes lower of blood sugar,
lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic
blood pressure. In fact, Ramadan fasting would be an
ideal recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate,
stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and essential
hypertension. In 1994 the first International Congress
on "Health and Ramadan", held in Casablanca, entered 50
research papers from all over the world, from Muslim and
non-Muslim researchers who have done extensive studies
on the medical ethics of fasting. While improvement in
many medical conditions was noted; however, in no way
did fasting worsen any patients' health or baseline
medical condition. On the other hand, patients who are
suffering from severe diseases, whether diabetes or
coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt
from fasting and should not try to fast.
There are
psychological effects of fasting as well. There is a
peace and tranquility for those who fast during the
month of Ramadan. Personal hostility is at a minimum,
and the crime rate decreases. Muslims take advice from
the Prophet who said, "If one slanders you or aggresses
against you, say I am fasting.'" This psychological
improvement could be related to better stabilization of
blood glucose during fasting as hypoglycemia after
eating, aggravates behavior changes.
There is a
beneficial effect of extra prayer at night. This not
only helps with better utilization of food but also
helps in output. There are 10 extra calories output for
each rikat of the prayer. Again, we do not do prayers
for exercise, but a mild movement of the joints with
extra calorie utilization is a better form of exercise.
Similarly, recitation of the Quran not only produces a
tranquility of heart and mind, but improves the memory.
Therefore, I encourage my Muslim
patients to fast in
the month of Ramadan, but they must do it under medical
supervision. Healthy adult Muslims should not fear
becoming weak by fasting, but instead it should improve
their health and stamina. |
