Is fasting in Ramadan good for you? Are there risks? Everything you need to know

Ramadan, the fasting season celebrated by millions of people around the world, is expected to begin next week.

As Muslims prepare for one of the most important events in the Islamic calendar, we consider the health implications of Ramadan.

From suhur before sunrise to iftar after sunset, MailOnline explores what health conditions may be affected by Ramadan, whose exemptions from fasting and whether skipping meals can really be healthy.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

It is marked by a fast of 29 to 30 days commemorating that the Islamic prophet Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel/Gabriel and revealed the basic principles of the Qur’an.

During Ramadan, most Muslims eat only twice a day, for a pre-dawn meal called suhur and again for a post-sunset meal called iftar

It is celebrated around the world with adult Muslims pledging not to eat or drink from sunrise to sunset, with few exceptions.

Instead, they eat and drink in a pre-dawn meal called suhur and again in a post-sunset meal called iftar.

Smoking is also prohibited during the day during Ramadan.

The spiritual idea behind fasting is that it allows Muslims to empathize with those less fortunate, study the Qur’an and improve their relationship with Allah.

Another aspect of Ramadan is that spiritual rewards are multiplied during this month.

This means that activities such as swearing, lying, fighting and arguing, and sex during Ramadan are also withheld, while charity towards others is encouraged.

This year, Ramadan in the UK is expected to fall between 22 March and 21 April.

Are some Muslims exempt from fasting?

Yes, generally those who may experience negative health consequences from fasting are exempt.

These groups include the elderly, the infirm, the sick or in treatment, pregnant and menstruating women, and women who are breastfeeding.

Children who have not yet reached puberty and all Muslims traveling far from home are generally exempt from fasting.

Individuals who miss the fast for a temporary reason such as menstruation or short illness are encouraged to make up the fast at another time of the year.

Pregnant women are among the groups exempted from fasting during Ramadan

For those who cannot make up for the fast, charitable giving is encouraged instead to feed the poor.

During the Covid pandemic, some Muslim NHS staff were exempted from drinking during Ramadan due to the risk to themselves and patients of possible dehydration while wearing extensive personal protective equipment.

What are some health benefits of fasting?

Fasting has the distinct advantage of theoretically reducing the number of calories burned, which can aid in weight loss.

However, whether or not a person will lose weight depends on what they eat during pre-dawn and post-sunset meals.

If a person chooses heavy, decadent calorie meals to break their fast each day, they will not lose weight, even if they do not eat or drink anything during the day.

For this reason, Muslims are advised to eat a regular, balanced meal with a variety of key food groups for suhur and iftar.

For some obese or overweight people, changing their normal diet during Ramadan can lead to weight loss.

However, if they don’t change their eating habits for the rest of the year, the weight will return.

Intermittent fasting, which bears a superficial resemblance to fasting during Ramadan in that proponents skip meals for hours each day, has been linked to anti-aging benefits by some studies, although this is controversial.

Some small studies have shown that Ramadan lowers cholesterol or strengthens the immune system, but others have found no detectable effect.

Reducing smoking associated with fasting during Ramadan can be beneficial as it can encourage people to quit altogether.

Smoking less can encourage people to quit smoking altogether

Are there health risks of fasting in Ramadan?

Because Muslims at risk of potential health complications from fasting, such as B. injured and pregnant women are excluded, there are not very wide health risks from the practice.

While oral medication may be considered to break the fast, critically ill people are exempt from the fast.

In addition, many medication regimens can be modified so that pills are taken as part of suhur and iftar.

However, anyone who is concerned should consult their GP or doctor before deciding not to take their medication.

Some medical professionals advise their patients to postpone fasting until winter, when daylight hours and thus the fasting period are shorter, to minimize the impact on their health if they choose to fast.

One of the health issues to be aware of is diabetes and the effects that fasting can have on blood sugar levels.

Muslims with diabetes are encouraged to speak to their diabetes management team before Ramadan to discuss the advisability of fasting.

Oral medications are generally considered to break the fast during Ramadan, which may force some people to change their medication times.

Most imams generally support Muslims with health problems who are exempt from fasting, as the Qur’an itself states that people should not act in a way that is harmful to their bodies.

In general, fasting can cause some minor health problems.

Mild dehydration can occur if you don’t drink, which can cause headaches, fatigue and concentration problems.

The same is true for people who normally consume caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee during the day, although this usually decreases during Ramadan as their bodies adjust to the withdrawal.

Finally, the changes in eating habits and lack of fluids during the day can lead to constipation in some people.

Muslims are advised to consume plenty of high-fiber foods such as whole grains, high-fiber cereals, bran, fruits and vegetables, beans, lentils, dried fruits and nuts, and plenty of fluids before sunrise and after sunset meals.

In addition, light physical activity such as walking after iftar is recommended to reduce the risk of constipation.