ISLAMABAD – Experts have found that restricting food intake during the daycan help prevent health problems such as high cholesterol, heart diseaseand obesity, as well as improve mental health and wellbeing.
By not consuming any food, our body is able to concentrate on removingtoxins, as we give the digestive system a rest.
Nutritionist Claire Mahy told Al Jazeera: “Fasting allows the gut tocleanse and strengthens its lining. It can also stimulate a process calledautophagy, which is where cells self-cleanse and remove damaged anddangerous particles.”
Scientists have also been studying the link between diet, gut health andmental wellbeing and, as Mosley explained, fasting can lead to the releaseof BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) in the brain.
“This has been shown to protect brain cells and could reduce depression andanxiety, as well as the risk of developing dementia,” Mosley added.
Many people who have embraced fasting have also found that, done properly,it has helped them lose fat and gain lean muscle mass.——————————
*When not to fast*——————————
Exemptions are made for the elderly, the young, anyone who is ill, forwomen who are pregnant or menstruating, and for those travelling. In thesecases, fasts are made by fidyah – donating money or food to those in need.
Read Top Stories
As with any diet or lifestyle change, there are risks to fasting as it isnot suited to everyone.
Individuals with compromised health or those who are being followed by aphysician for any health conditions should consult a doctor before tryingit in order to be monitored for some of the side-effects.
“Fasting can lead to low blood glucose levels (BGL), which causes reducedconcentration and increased fatigue,” explained registered nutritionistNazmin Islam.
Islam added that sustainable weight loss is only possible with regularfasting and that any weight loss during Ramazan could easily be reversedonce an individual returns to their daily eating patterns.
“However, the benefits outweigh the cons. In the long run, fasting, if donecorrectly, can improve one’s digestive system and overall metabolism.”
