Health Benefits of Fasting in Ramadan - Part 2

[@franksalz9114]

Top videos! Such a blessing in Ramadan i feel so much better in ramadan

[@carmellobrownie7908]

Jazak Allah khair brother!

[@physiologymadeeasy216]

Wa ʾiyyākum my friend.

[@aftabansari2010able]

Thanks Dr

[@physiologymadeeasy216]

My pleasure!

[@lavenderwarrior1]

Assalamu alaikum Thanks for this! I was wondering about what it actually does for our body. I'm a new Muslim

[@physiologymadeeasy216]

Walaikomassalam. Mashallah, it is great that you have embraced Islam. May Allah make your quest for knowledge easy for you.

[@lavenderwarrior1]

@@physiologymadeeasy216 Alhamdulillah, and Ameen! thank you for responding to me 🙌🏾

[@kaifmushrif3504]

Love from India ❤️

[@physiologymadeeasy216]

Thanks my friend!

[@patriot4786]

Very usefull knowledge, thank you dr. 🙏

[@physiologymadeeasy216]

Thanks and welcome

[@patriot4786]

@@physiologymadeeasy216 just made my fast succesful yesterday. But dr I would like to ask, is having the pre dawn meal (suhur as they call it) neccessary and important, and what are the negativities that can affect our body if we dont have the pre dawn meal? Because im starting to routinely have a monday and thursday fasting.. can you please enlighten. Thank you😊🙏

[@physiologymadeeasy216]

@@patriot4786 I think the pre dawn meal is very important because it provides the nutrients your cells need to function. Those function may include immune response to infections, growth and repair, cognitive ability, energy for physical work (and exercise). If you do not have Suhoor, then essentially, you will deplete these nutrients over a period of time. Missing it for one or two days is fine, but the cumulative effects (i.e. those that build up with time) will cause problems related the things I mention above.

[@patriot4786]

@@physiologymadeeasy216 thank you dr for the explanation!, greetings from Indonesia

[@wing459]

Wonderful information, always love your presentations. Just curious in regards to the visceral fat loss, are we referring to higher than normal visceral fat loss compared to regular methods of weight loss? Also, what is the benefit of partial intermittent fasting (obviously not during the period), that is instead of a 5:2 approach or a 16:8 every day of the week, would there still be benefit in for example performing a 16:8 fast but only every other day, or say 3 times per week? What restrictions would you typically put in place in a 16:8 cycle during your fasting period? Only water? Or is there simply a low calorie threshold to stay under? (similar to the 5:2 fasting)

[@physiologymadeeasy216]

Thanks for this very thoughtful comment. IF does appear to be more effective when compared to just calorie restriction (especially in overweight/obese people) but further research is still needed to better understand the magnitude of effect on the viscera. This review article provides a nice overview: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S193152441400200X There is likely to be a benefit of fasting on alternate days or even just 2-3 days per week. The effect of fasting is quite immediate,and you could certainly strategically fast on set days of the week to help promote weight loss (and get the other health benefits). For the 16:8 fasting, there are no restrictions to the calories you can consume in the 8 hour eating window, however, if you eat lots of calorie dense food, there is a risk you will undo any calorie deficits from fasting. It is important that in the 8 hour eating window, you eat moderately, and leave some space in your stomach. You do not need to eat until you feel really full. In the 16 hour fast, water is fine, though in the Ramadan fasting, we do not drink water either - which is tough in the summer!

[@wing459]

@@physiologymadeeasy216 Thank you very much for the reply. I'll definitely be giving the article a read. Ramadan Mubarak. (Apologies if I have misused that, but I hope you understand my intention)

[@physiologymadeeasy216]

@@wing459 You said it perfectly. Thanks very much for the kind wishes my friend.

[@jamesblayer7561]

What is benefit of not dinking water?

[@physiologymadeeasy216]

Hi James, there is presently not enough research studies conducted examining the effects of 'no water' fasts on health. Thus, until we have further scientific studies investigating the effect on health markers, it will be difficult to draw conclusions. Importantly, studies utilizing food and water fasts (i.e. recruiting people fasting for Ramadan) do show health benefits (as outlined in the video), but knowing what contribution the abstinence from food or water makes is not clear. I hope this helps.