Fasting has number of physical benefits: Dr. Tasnim Zara

Fasting has a number of benefits. The famous doctor Tasnim Zara opened up about the benefits of fasting. 

The month of holy Ramadan has started. There are at least seven benefits of fasting. The clinical supervisor of Cambridge University Dr. discussed this in a video. 

Many Muslim people fast during this month of Ramadan. Lots of people think that fasting makes the body very weak. But, modern medicine and research have proven that fasting is a healthy thing. Fasting prevents various physical complications and various serious diseases. 

Fasting is not just a religious matter. It also has physical and mental benefits. There are at least seven benefits of fasting. Doctor Tasnim Zara has discussed this in a video.

Tasnim Zara said that despite fasting for thousands of years, it was not known how good or bad it is for health. But in the last 20-30 years there has been a lot of research on this. These studies have revealed many surprising benefits of fasting. The benefits are:

1. Maintenance of youth and protection from disease

Dr. Tasnim said that our body is made up of millions of cells. Every cell produces waste products. This waste is removed and reused by the cell itself through a process called 'autophagy', which rejuvenates the cells and helps in retaining youth. She said, studies have shown that brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's can occur if this process is not done properly. According to her fasting increases autophagy.

2. Reduction of fat

Doctor said in the video that the body has a type of glucose or sugar stored in advance. It usually subsidies within 10-12 hours of fasting. The body must then use previously stored fat as fuel. This is called a metabolic switch. Research has shown that this has the potential to have several benefits. It keeps our heart healthy, reduces belly fat, lowers blood pressure, and lowers blood sugar.

3. Stomach health

Many microbes live in our lungs which is beneficial for health in many ways including increasing our immunity. If we do not eat, the number of beneficial bacteria in our stomach increases.

4. Weight loss 

Fasting during Ramadan results in an average weight loss of one to one and a half kgs.

5. Control of blood sugar levels

Blood sugar levels indicate the risk of developing diabetes later on. If it is more than a certain amount, the risk of developing diabetes increases. According to Tasnim, fasting keeps diabetes under control.

6. Blood cholesterol control

Our blood contains a type of fat called cholesterol. High cholesterol can cause fatty deposits in blood vessels to narrow them. As a result, the risk of heart attack increases. Fasting helps in controlling blood cholesterol.

7. Blood pressure control

Measurements of blood pressure taken before and after fasting showed that those who fasted had stable blood pressure.