Food is needed by the body to provide energy for immediate use.
This is done by burning carbohydrates, that is, sugar. Excess of carbohydrates which cannot be used are stored as fat tissue in the muscles and as glycogen in the liver for future use.
Insulin, a hormone from the pancreas, lowers blood sugar and diverts it to other forms of energy storage, that is, glycogen. To be effective, insulin has to be bound to binding sites called receptors.
Obese people lack receptors. Therefore, they cannot utilise their insulin. This may lead to glucose intolerance.
When one fasts (or decreases carbohydrate intake drastically), it lowers one’s blood glucose and insulin level. This causes breakdown of glycogen from the liver to provide glucose and breakdown of fat from adipose tissue to provide for energy needs.
On the basis of human physiology semi-starvation diets have been devised for effective weight control. These diets provide a calculated amount of protein in divided doses with plenty of water, multivitamins, etc.
These effectively lower weight and blood sugar, but because of their side effects, should be used only under the supervision of physicians.
Total fasting reduces or eliminates hunger and causes rapid weight loss. In 1975, Allan Cott in his Fasting as a Way of Life, noted: “Fasting brings a wholesome physiological rest for the digestive tract and central nervous system and normalises metabolism.”
Islamic fasting is different from other fasting
The prescribed fast of Muslims is different from the so-called “Diet Plans” because it has beneficial features of both plans. Its unique medical benefits are due to the following factors:
1. Compared to other diet plans, fasting in Ramadan does not cause malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake since there is no restriction on the type or amount of food intake before beginning the fast or after ending the fast at sunset.
2. Fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily undertaken. It is not a prescribed imposition from a physician. In the hypothalamus of the brain there is a centre called the “lipostat” which controls the body mass. When severe and rapid weight loss is achieved by a starvation diet, the centre does not recognise this as normal and, therefore, reprogrammes itself to cause weight gain rapidly once the person goes off the starvation diet. So the only effective way of losing weight is slow, self-controlled, and gradual weight loss which can be achieved by modifying our behaviour and changing our attitude about eating, especially by eliminating excess food. Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and self-training in terms of food intake, thereby hopefully causing a permanent change in lipostat reading.
3. With the prescribed fast, Muslims are not subjected to a diet of selective food only (i.e. protein only, fruits only, etc.). Before dawn an early breakfast is taken. Then at sunset the fast is broken with something sweet i.e. dates, fruits, juices to offset any hypoglycemia followed by a regular dinner later on.
4. Additional prayers are prescribed after dinner, which help metabolise the food. Using a calorie counter, I counted the amount of calories burnt during the special night prayer of Ramadan. It amounted to 200 calories. This form of prayer as well as the five daily prescribed prayers use all the muscles and joints and can be considered a mild form of exercise in terms of calorie usage.
5. Ramadan fasting is actually an exercise in self-discipline. For those who are chain smokers or who nibble food constantly, or drink coffee every hour, it is a good way to break the habit.
6. The psychological effects of Ramadan fasting can be observed from the description of people who fast. They describe a feeling of inner peace and tranquility. The prophet advised those fasting: “If one slanders you or aggresses against you, tell him ‘I am fasting.’” Thus personal hostility during the month is minimal. The crime rate in Muslim countries falls during this month.
Fasting in Ramadan will be a great blessing for those who are overweight, whether with or without mild diabetes (Type 11). It benefits those also who are given to smoking or nibbling. This month provides the opportunity to rid themselves of these addictions during this month.
