More Than Hold Thirst And Hunger, 7 Benefits Of Fasting According To Science

Illustration of the benefits of fasting according to science (Freepik/ededchechine)

JAKARTA - Ramadan fasting is compulsory to worship for Muslims. Besides being practiced according to sharia and getting rewarded, fasting according to science is beneficial for health. Even in healthy behavior, doctors often recommend fasting to detoxify the body.

Fasting is not just holding back thirst and hunger from before sunrise to sunset. Fasting also restrains lust and carry-out practices. Meanwhile, according to science, fasting has the following health benefits:

Control blood sugar

Short-term intermittent fasting, as reported by Healthline, Friday, April 16, can control blood sugar. The study was conducted on 10 people with type 2 diabetes, after undergoing fasting their blood sugar decreased significantly.

Another study found that fasting can make insulin work more effectively in the body, especially to process glucose into energy and circulate it through the bloodstream to the body's cells.

Improve heart health

When fasting, your diet will change. Someone will be more selective and careful in choosing food when breaking or eating suhoor. Changing your diet to be healthier can have a positive effect on your heart.

Increase metabolism

Coupled with adequate nutritional intake, fasting is beneficial for increasing the body's metabolism. In fact, fasting all day long can reduce body weight by up to 9 percent during a healthy lifestyle.

Balances hormones

Hormones are key to growth, metabolism, weight loss, and muscle strength. A study has shown that exercising is beneficial in balancing hormone production and release.

Potential to prolong life

Although more comprehensive research is still needed, fasting is alleged to be useful for prolonging life.

In a study conducted in a laboratory, experimental animals who fasted every day experienced delayed aging and longer-lived.

Reduces nervous disorders

As with previous studies, an in-depth investigation of these findings is still needed. That fasting in laboratory animals is reported to protect brain health and increase the formation of nerve cells thereby reducing the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Reduces the risk of inflammation

Inflammation is one of the symptoms experienced when having an infection. Fasting, according to scientific studies, shows that it can help reduce inflammation, especially in the development of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

There are many benefits of fasting, right? Well, besides fasting in Ramadan, fasting with different instances or intentions is equally beneficial for health such as intermittent diet and OCD.