Tomorrow will be the first day of Ramadhan, a month where muslims will fast.

I want to wish y'all that fast a happy fasting month.

I've come across few reading materials on the benefits of fasting from scientific point of view. Thought of sharing them with you guys.

Disclaimer: I'm not a rocket scientist, so I could have misunderstood some benefits of the practice. If you find any mistake, do point it out and I'll make correction.

What is fasting?

^.

Fasting is a period of time where you refrain from eating and drinking. This practice is common in many religions; Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

There are differences in the ways this practice is performed as according to the faiths. The commonality in the practice is the rule to limiting or restricting the intake of food and water for a period of time. What happens then is our body will adjust metabolic status to sustain itself.

Our cells need energy, this energy comes from the food that we eat. But when there's no food, what our body will do is it'll start 'eating' itself up. Among the first thing that will be consumed is your glucose and fat deposit.

A longer fasting period will make the body breakdown muscle for protein. But this is not a concern to muslims because our fast is broken daily, and we also have sahur before starting fast for the day.

What happens during fast?

^.

• Glucose deposit is used, it helps the prevention for progression of type 2 diabetes. Note: Quran exempts people who are ill to fast. If one is diabetic and could have hypoglycemic due to fasting, it's okay for the person not to fast (unless managed correctly). Source

• Fat is turned into ketone through ketosis. Ketone is the stuff that makes fasting becomes bearable. It's the source of energy to the body after absence of glucose.

  1. BHB (a major ketone) may be an even more efficient fuel than glucose, providing more energy per unit oxygen used.
  2. A ketogenic diet also increases the number of mitochondria, so called “energy factories” in brain cells.
  3. Enhanced expression of genes encoding for mitochondrial enzymes and energy metabolism in the hippocampus, a part of the brain important for learning and memory.
  4. Hippocampal cells often degenerate in age-related brain diseases, leading to cognitive dysfunction and memory loss. With increased energy reserve, neurons may be able to ward off disease stressors that would usually exhaust and kill the cell. Source

• Hormones and neurotransmitters are produced by body. Among these hormones are:

  1. Ghrelin - Hormone that makes you hungry and responsible for meal initiation. Its benefits are neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing activity, favorably impacts vascular health, exerts anti-inflammatory activity useful in autoimmune disorders, and is markedly hepatoprotective. Source
  2. Leptin regulates food intake and energy expenditure. Its effects are increasing insulin sensitivity on the long term, by decreasing insulinemia, and ultimately by reversing type 2 diabetes in one previously diabetic patient. Source