Various Benefits Of Ramadan Fasting For Body Health Revealed Through Studies

Illustration of iftar men (Photo: Freepik/garakta_studio)

JAKARTA - Ramadan fasting is not just a worship run by Muslims around the world, but also has great benefits for the health of the body. Various studies have shown that restraining food and drink from dawn to sunset can have a positive impact on metabolism, blood pressure, to the digestive system.

A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association revealed that Ramadan fasting has health benefits, including reduced blood pressure.

The research conducted by Rami Al-Jafar and his team involved 85 participants aged 29 to 61 years from five mosques in London. The participants measured their blood pressure before and after Ramadan, recording systolic (upper figure) and diastolic (low figure) pressures.

In addition, they were also asked to record their diet for three days before and during Ramadan. After considering age and gender factors, it was found that the average systolic pressure decreased by 7.29 mmHg, while the diastolic pressure fell 3.42 mmHg after Ramadan.

Interestingly, this result applies not only to healthy people, but also to those with high blood pressure and diabetes.

"Most of the previous studies were conducted in countries with a population of the same culture, diet, and race background," said Al-Jafar, an epidemiological doctoral student at Imperial College London, quoted by VOI from the American Heart Association website.

"Our research is more diverse, involving participants from various cultures with different diets, so it can be called community-based studies," he added.

This finding was also strengthened by analysis of 33 other studies conducted in Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, involving a total of 3,213 participants. The studies also show that participants' blood pressure is lower after fasting Ramadan.

Although Ramadan fasting is shown to lower blood pressure, the effect may not last long. Kristia Varady, professor of nutrition from the University of Illinois, who was not involved in the study, explains that many people did experience a slight weight loss during Ramadan.

However, once they return to their normal diet, their body weight and blood pressure tend to return to normal.

"We did get cardiomethabolic benefits during Ramadan, but unfortunately, these benefits are not sustainable," he said.

In addition, Ramadan fasting is different from other types of fasting such as intermittent fasting or later fasting, which includes fasting every two days or restrictions on daily meals. Some previous studies have shown that later fasting can prolong life and reduce the risk of heart failure, especially in communities that run it regularly.

The researchers suspect that the decrease in blood pressure during Ramadan is related to metabolic changes that occur after 8 to 12 hours of fasting. After this period, the body begins to burn the ketone as an energy source, replacing glycogens originating from carbohydrates.

Previous research also showed that calorie restrictions could increase cardiovascular risk factors and insulin sensitivity.