“The philosophy of fasting calls upon us to know ourselves, to master ourselves, and to discipline ourselves the better to free ourselves. To fast is to identify our dependencies, and free ourselves from them”-Tariq Ramadan
In this holy month of Ramadan fasting is observed by Muslims throughout the world. Have you ever wondered what happens to your body when you are fasting? Well, fasting has ample health benefits.
Wafia Ayesh, Director of Clinical Nutrition at Dubai Health Authority, says “Ramadan fasting gives the digestive system rest and helps in self-healing and self-repairing.
Fasting detoxifies the body of its toxins which fuels the body’s healing mechanism and prevents diseases and disorders. However, those who fast need to follow healthy eating patterns and get sufficient rest to reap health benefits of fasting.”
Anti-inflammatory mechanism of fasting
Scientists at the Yale School of Medicine, have chanced upon a compound which is produced by the body during fasting or dieting. The compound known as BHB blocks the part of the immune system, involved in several inflammatory disorders, such as atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers found out in animal experiments that BHB can lower NLRP3 an inflammasome which causes many inflammatory diseases. It is really amazing to know that fasting can prevent such scary diseases.
Fasting good for prediabetes
This is definitely a great news to celebrate. Periodic fasting in the body converts bad cholesterol in the fat cells into energy, says a research study.
Scientists found that after fasting for 10 to 12 hours, the body starts to get energy from other sources, to sustain itself. In this way it pulls the LDL or bad cholesterol and converts it into energy.
The fat cells itself are a major contributor to insulin resistance. Fasting helps to eliminate and breaks down fat cells. Thus preventing insulin resistance. Insulin resistance always precedes type 2 diabetes.
Fasting reduces risk of coronary heart diseases
Researchers of the Intermountain Medical Centre say that, fasting reduces the risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes and also improves blood cholesterol levels.
You may be surprised. Scientists say that, there is a link between fasting, and in the reduction of cardiac factors such as triglycerides, weight and blood sugar levels.
Fasting may improve the way your body metabolizes sugar. This greatly reduces the risk of gaining weight and developing diabetes. Which are both risk factors of heart disease, writes Dr. Donald Hensrud Chairperson of Metabolism and Nutrition at Mayo Clinic.
Fasting aids in cancer treatment
All these sounds terribly fascinating to me. Hope you would feel the same. A University of Southern California research study says that, fasting along with a less toxic cancer drug may kill the cells of breast, lung and colorectal cancer cells.
How is it possible? You may wonder. Researchers say cancer cells need energy to survive and keep growing. They heavily depend on glucose for their rapid growth. This is known as Warburg effect.
During fasting the cancer cells are deprived of glucose. So they rely on enzymes called kinases. This metabolic shift of the cancer cells causes them to generate toxic free materials, which completely destroys them.
So scientists say that, fasting along with less toxic cancer drug may have the same effect as that of chemotherapy on cancer cells. Amazing!
Fasting boosts immune system
The University of Southern California research says that fasting can help you kick start your immune system. It triggers and regenerates the stem cells from a dormant state to a state of self-renewal.
Fasting improves the immune system, because it regulates inflammatory conditions, reduces free radical damage and starves off cancer cell formation, writes Nathan Hewitt a highly influential weight loss coach in UK.
Fasting reduces the risk of breast cancer
Researchers say that, overnight fasting reduces the glucose levels, and may reduce the risk of breast cancer in women. Interestingly, women who fasted longer periods of time overnight, had better control over blood glucose concentrations. Night time fasting results in favorable changes to biomarkers of glycemic control and breast cancer risk.
So it would be wise to adopt fasting as a habit on a weekly basis, to safeguard your breast health.
Fasting boosts brain health
It offers protective and therapeutic benefits to the brain. Fasting boosts neuronal autophagy, and increases the BDNF protein which activates stem cells to produce new neurons, and other chemicals that promote neural health. The BDNF protein is essential to fight off depression.
Take away
In a nut shell fasting is beneficial to your body from head to toe. So, skip onto the bandwagon of fasting and reap the amazing health results.
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