The month of Ramazan is one of the precious blessings for Muslims in which Almighty Allah opens the doors of his mercy and forgiveness upon Muslims. The whole month, every Muslim observes fast from rise of sun till dawn.

Starving for some hours is not only good for individual’s physical health but also for mental health. It keeps person active and relaxed though.

In this article, we’ll look at some benefits of fasting that will surprise you, and how you can fit them into your own life.

Fasting helps weight loss

Fasting can be a safe way to lose weight as many studies have shown that fasting for some hours allows the body to burn fat cells more effectively than just regular dieting.

Fasting allows the body to use stored fat as its prime source of energy instead of sugar. Many athletes now use fasting as means to hitting low body fat percentages for competitions.

Fasting speeds up the metabolism

Fasting gives your digestive system a rest, and this can energize your metabolism to burn through calories more efficiently. If your digestion is poor, this can affect your ability to metabolize food and burn fat. Intermittent fasts can regulate your digestion and promote healthy bowel function, thus improving your metabolic function.

Fasting promotes longevity

Believe it or not, the less you eat the longer you will live. Studies have shown how the lifespan of people in certain cultures increased due to their diets. However, we don’t need to live amongst a foreign community to reap the benefits of fasting. One of the primary effects of ageing is a slower metabolism, the younger your body is, the faster and more efficient your metabolism. The less you eat, the less toll it takes on your digestive system.

Fasting improves your brain function

Fasting has shown improvement in brain function, because it boosts the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

BDNF activates brain stem cells to convert into new neurons, and triggers numerous other chemicals that promote neural health. This protein also protects your brain cells from changes associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Fasting improves your immune system

Fasting improves the immune system because it reduces free radical damage, regulates stirring conditions in the body and starves off cancer cell formation.

In nature, when animals get sick they stop eating and instead focus on resting. This is a primal instinct to reduce stress on their internal system so their body can fight off infection.

Fasting contributes to self-enlightenment

Fasting has helped many people feel more connected to life during the practices reading, meditation, yoga and martial arts etc. With no food in the digestive system, this makes space for more energy in the body.

Fasting for self-enlightenment, allows us to feel better both consciously and physically. With a lighter body and a clearer mind we become more aware and grateful for the things around us.

Source: lifehack.org