Here's how fasting during Ramadan can improve your health
| May 23, 2019, 15:25 IST
The Islamic month of Ramadan might be practiced by Muslims all over the world for religious purposes but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have its own advantages. A study has found that fasting during Ramadan can help decrease insulin resistance and even maintain healthy body weight. During Ramadan fast, a person is required to abstain from consuming food and drinks for a period of time (sunrise to sunset).
Research has shown that doing so can increase protein levels in the body that improve insulin resistance and also protect the body against risks of high-sugar and high-fat diets. Because of this researchers now believe that this method can be used to tackle obesity and obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome etc.
"According to World Health Organization data, obesity affects over 650 million people worldwide, placing them at risk for any number of health conditions,” said one professor. “Feeding and fasting can significantly impact how the body makes and uses proteins that are critical to decreasing insulin resistance and maintaining a healthy body weight,” she added. “Therefore, the timing of and duration between meals could be important factors to consider for people struggling with obesity-related conditions,” she said,
For the study, 14 individuals who fasted for the 30 days of Ramadan were surveyed. These participants fasted for approximately 15 hours a day. Blood samples were collected from them before the beginning of the religious fast, during the fourth week of the fast and one week after the fast ended. It was found that there were raised levels of tropomyosin (TPM) 1, 3 and 4, proteins in their body, which are essential in maintaining healthy cells and play a role in how insulin is produced in the body.
“We are in the process of expanding our research to include individuals with metabolic syndrome and NAFLD to determine whether results are consistent with those of the healthy individuals,” said the professor. “Based on our initial research, we believe that dawn-to-sunset fasting may provide a cost-effective intervention for those struggling with obesity-related conditions,” she said. Stay tuned for more updates.
Research has shown that doing so can increase protein levels in the body that improve insulin resistance and also protect the body against risks of high-sugar and high-fat diets. Because of this researchers now believe that this method can be used to tackle obesity and obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome etc.
"According to World Health Organization data, obesity affects over 650 million people worldwide, placing them at risk for any number of health conditions,” said one professor. “Feeding and fasting can significantly impact how the body makes and uses proteins that are critical to decreasing insulin resistance and maintaining a healthy body weight,” she added. “Therefore, the timing of and duration between meals could be important factors to consider for people struggling with obesity-related conditions,” she said,
For the study, 14 individuals who fasted for the 30 days of Ramadan were surveyed. These participants fasted for approximately 15 hours a day. Blood samples were collected from them before the beginning of the religious fast, during the fourth week of the fast and one week after the fast ended. It was found that there were raised levels of tropomyosin (TPM) 1, 3 and 4, proteins in their body, which are essential in maintaining healthy cells and play a role in how insulin is produced in the body.
“We are in the process of expanding our research to include individuals with metabolic syndrome and NAFLD to determine whether results are consistent with those of the healthy individuals,” said the professor. “Based on our initial research, we believe that dawn-to-sunset fasting may provide a cost-effective intervention for those struggling with obesity-related conditions,” she said. Stay tuned for more updates.