Sabah says : The Benefits of Fasting 

We’re now over halfway through the Islamic holy month of Ramadan; a month in which Muslims all around the world come together to refrain from their physical needs and desires - including eating and drinking - during sunlight hours for around 30 days, in order to focus on their spiritual growth and obtaining God consciousness, which in Arabic is known as ‘taqwa’.

In England, during the summer months, the fasting hours sometimes last up to 20 hours. During my teenage years at school, college and in a number of different work situations there, non-Muslims who didn’t quite understand how beneficial and cleansing Ramadan could be, would often look at me as if I was crazy.

However, fasting and ‘starving yourself’ are two completely different concepts, and with the popularity of intermittent fasting increasing among people from all walks of life who want to increase their productivity levels and wellbeing, today I want to share with you some of the ways in which fasting can be beneficial for the human body, mind and soul so you can better understand why so many people around the globe choose to fast.

Benefits for the body

The rewards that the body reaps from fasting for 30 days straight are incredible. As long as you are eating healthily and not over-indulging in the hours during which eating and drinking are permitted, the body undergoes a complete detox and revitalisation process, cleansing and repairing itself and giving many people the much-needed boost that they need to get on with the rest of the year.

In the first few days of fasting, blood sugar levels and blood pressure drop. It is usually these initial few days that tend to be the hardest with fasters experiencing headaches, intense hunger and even nausea – however, it is here that the cleansing process of the body begins.

After the first few days pass, the body begins to get used to the fasting schedule and the digestive system is able to rest. At this point, as the body’s white blood cells begin to become more active, the digestive system focusses its energy on healing the cells within the body; it is during this stage that the organs of the body begin their repair process aswell.

In the next stage, energy levels increase and an overall feeling of wellness overtakes the faster. Because the body’s healing processes become much more efficient during periods of fasting, any damaged cells are automatically repaired by the body. At the same time, the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin begin their detoxifying processes by eliminating toxins from the body.

The final ten days of Ramadan are when a consistent faster will feel their best. During these final days, the organs are completing their healing processes and as final toxins are eliminated from the system, the body is then able to function at full capacity. As the body is completely accustomed to fasting by this point, energy levels will increase and the faster will feel well and strong.

I find this whole process completely fascinating and when you look at fasting from this perspective it really does sound like something that everyone should implement into their lives in order to allow one of the greatest gifts given to us - our bodies - time to rest, heal and repair. 

Benefits for the Mind

So what effect can consistent fasting have on the mind? Well first things first, abstaining from things that are usually permitted to Muslims in everyday life such as food and drink, is a great exercise in willpower. If you can fast for 20 hours a day, or even 12 hours a day as it is in Mauritius, for 30 days in a row, you can literally do anything and Ramadan reinforces that belief for a lot of us.

But the benefits to the mind go beyond just increasing willpower. The effects of fasting on the mind are well known, celebrated and enjoyed by many people from all walks of life all around the world – particularly entrepreneurs and those interested in wellbeing and fitness. 

During the process of fasting, as the body begins to heal and repair itself, so does the mind. Studies have shown that fasting increases rates of neurogenesis in the brain, which is the growth and development of new brain cells and nerve tissues. Higher rates of neurogenesis are linked to increased brain performance, better memory, more positive moods and more concentrated focus – and as the body becomes more energised during the month of Ramadan, you will find that the mind also becomes clearer, stronger and more focussed. 

BDNF is a protein produced by the brain that plays a part in neuroplasticity, which allows the brain to adapt and change. Production levels of this protein increase during periods of fasting too, which helps to make your brain more adaptable to change and more resilient to stress – I guess that explains how we all get through the month without having a mental breakdown!

Benefits for the Soul

As if all of the benefits to the body and mind weren’t enough, the benefits that your soul gets from fasting for the purposes of becoming closer to God and your inner self are just out-of-this-world. For me, this is one of my favourite things about the month of Ramadan.

Through fasting we learn to understand our carnal selves, and by taming our physical appetites, desires and greed, we begin to pave a path which elevates us from our physical being up to the spiritual dimension of our being. We are given more opportunity to be in the present moment and therefore, ultimately, to be with God. And that for me is where my soul finds the most peace.

Until next time.
Light & Love,
Sabah x