‘I’m a nutritionist – here’s why Muslims fast in Ramadan and eight health benefits’

The month of Ramadan is when Muslims all over the world fast from sunrise to sunset.

This year Ramadan is scheduled to start on Friday, February 28 or Saturday, March 1, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, as the Islamic months are based on a lunar calendar. is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

During fasting hours, don’t eat or drink anything, including water and they abstain from intimacy with their spouses. An Islamic scholar has explained in a video, on the inquireoneummah page, how Ramadan is not only about fasting but it is a time to focus on prayer and spirituality.

Why Muslims fast during Ramadan

Omar Suleiman, an American Islamic scholar and civil rights activist, said: “During that time you restrict the intake to the body so that you can focus on the intake of the soul so instead of being focused on consumption, constant consumption, you are consuming words of remembrance, words of prayer.

“You’re to be hyper conscious of not doing anything that would spiritually invalidate your fast just as you would physically so just like you won’t eat or drink you certainly won’t engage in sin, though you shouldn’t engage in sins throughout the year but you’re not going to speak words of evil.

“You’re not going to gossip or slander. You try to fast with your eyes, not look at things that are not praiseworthy so you try to engage in a wholesome act of disciplining yourself with a conscience of God but then channel that into engaging the soul instead, exercising the soul instead and what you’ll find with Muslims and this act of God consciousness where they reduce the consumption is they become far more grateful for the blessings of God because throughout our lives we just take sips of water, we eat what we can, we snack.”

He explained that when Muslims abstain from having water and eating whatever they want, they want they become “so much more grateful for that sip of water”, “so much more grateful for that bite of food” and “so much more aware of the one who provided those blessings to you.” It also makes Muslims “so much more aware of those that don’t have the same access to those blessings that you have.”

Fasting makes Muslims reflect on those living in poverty and those who can’t easily access basic necessities like food and water. This allows them to “develop a sense of empathy for the poor” and those that “can’t help but fast” since they don’t have access to any food or water.

The Islamic scholar also mentioned that in Ramadan people listen to more religious lectures, and are engaged in extra acts of devotion and charity. He concluded: “Muslims are most charitable in the month of Ramadan so you just feel great.”

Omar’s video has amassed a staggering 5.5 million views, 351,100 likes and more than 5,000 comments at the time of writing. One user said: “I wish I could, but I am diabetic and wouldn’t be able to do this without putting my health in danger. I love this for everyone who can.”

Some people are exempt from fasting, including those who have an illness and could be harmed by fasting, women who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, elderly people and children who have not reached puberty. Another user added: “I’m not Muslim but I love this so much. I wish I had more will power to do this.

What are the health benefits of fasting?

As well as feeling great inside, there are also a number of health benefits of fasting, as outlined by WebMD nutritionist Farwah Sheikh. In a video posted to WebMD’s page in April 2022, the nutritionist cited the following as eight benefits of fasting: a decrease in inflammation in the body, reduced and cholesterol, , blood sugar control and reduced insulin resistance, helps to repair DNA and damages cells, strengthens the immune system, protects against disease and cancer and allows all organs to heal and detox, releasing all of the toxins out of our system.

Farwah said: “Fasting can decrease inflammation in the entire body, which is really good for arthritis patients.” The noted that researchers have known that fasting or restricting food intake can help reduce inflammation but the reasons why “are unclear.”

Health website says that various methods of fasting “have been shown to lower blood pressure”, as well as caloric restriction. Fasting is associated with overall lower calorie intake, which can also help with weight loss.