While modern medicine has made significant strides, particularly in life expectancy, chronic diseases continue to plague older populations. Many are now turning to alternative therapies, including fasting, which has been practiced for centuries in various cultures and religions. Fasting has emerged as a promising therapy for treating chronic conditions, offering hope where conventional treatments have fallen short.
Despite the modern decline in religious practices, Muslim fasting during Ramadan remains prevalent, offering a unique population to study the effects of fasting. The interest in fasting as a therapeutic technique dates back over 60 years, beginning with Soviet psychiatrist Yuri Nikolaev. In 2016, Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize for his research on autophagy, which shed new light on fasting's benefits.
How Fasting Affects Metabolism
Fasting triggers the body to burn stored fat for energy, promoting fat loss while preserving muscle mass.
Weight Loss and Fasting
Fasting has gained popularity for weight loss, as it naturally reduces calorie intake. A meta-analysis of 35 studies found that Muslim Ramadan fasting is associated with significant weight loss in both men and women, highlighting the ancient practice’s hidden benefits.
Reducing Cardiovascular Risk
Time-restricted eating, as practiced during Ramadan, has been linked to lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and oxidative stress markers—key indicators of cardiovascular health.
Psychological Benefits
Fasting raises serotonin, the “happiness hormone,” boosting contentment while reducing anxiety.
Treatment of Chronic Diseases
Fasting shows promising results in managing chronic conditions like coronary artery disease, asthma, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatic fever.
Asthma: Fasting reduces histamine levels and immune response, helping to alleviate asthma symptoms. Studies show reduced lung inflammation and improved lung function in fasting patients.
Rheumatic Fever: Fasting has been shown to improve symptoms of rheumatic fever by supporting the immune response.
Psoriatic Arthritis: Fasting helps reduce inflammation, decreasing the need for pain medications.
Cancer
Fasting can make chemotherapy more effective by depriving cancer cells of nutrients. Studies show that fasting increases cancer cells' vulnerability to chemo, while normal cells enter a protective, low-metabolism state.
Improving Sleep Quality
Initially, fasting can delay sleep onset due to increased cortisol, but over time, it aligns the circadian rhythm and promotes REM sleep, enhancing overall sleep quality.
Age Reversal
Fasting activates autophagy, a self-cleaning process that removes old cells, promoting cellular regeneration and age reversal, helping you feel younger and healthier.