Billions of Muslims worldwide are taking part in Ramadan this month, and health professionals say fasting during this time could come with some serious health benefits. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, and it marks a period of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion. This year, Ramadan began on March 11 and will end on April 9, and during this time, Muslims will spend extra time reading the Qur’an and performing special prayers.
Many will also take part in a fast, which means they must abstain from food and drink, including water, from sunrise until sunset. Each day begins with a meal called Suhoor, which must be eaten before sunrise, and the fast is then broken at sunset with a meal known as Iftar. Fasting as part of Ramadan is a spiritual discipline that many people use as a way to empathise with those less fortunate, but according to health professionals, there could also be some health benefits to the process.
The Mirror spoke exclusively to Dr Shireen Kassam, a nutrition specialist and founder of Plant Based Health Professionals UK, to find out what benefits those fasting this month can expect to see.
‘Serious’ health risks of fasting during Ramadan – and how to make sure you stay safe. According to Dr Kassam, there is evidence to suggest that fasting could have a number of health benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved immune health, and improved blood lipid levels. However, the expert – who is observing Ramadan herself – insisted that people are unlikely to see any “long-term benefits” unless they make dietary changes after their fast.
She explained: “There is some evidence to suggest periods of fasting may lead to better immune health, lower levels of inflammation and growth factors, and improve blood lipid levels and blood pressure. “Fasting results in beneficial changes to the types of bacteria residing in the gut and this is thought to be one of the reasons for the wide range of short-term benefits seen.
However, if outside of the periods of fasting you are not consuming a fibre-rich, gut-healthy diet, it is unlikely that there will be any long-term benefits to health.” One of the most expected benefits of fasting is weight loss, as your body is taking in less calories day-to-day than it usually would without time-restricted eating.
