THE BENEFITS OF FASTING

WHO (World Health Organization) reports every year the top 10 reasons of death in the world. More than half of them are related to the wrong habits of eating and lack of exercise. Usually, we are attracted more towards bad eating habits because we see a lot of advertisements related to it. Despite all stuffs, Fasting is one of the best and undisputed ways to avoid a lot of health issues and diseases. With Ramzan and Chaitra Navratri around the corner, let us see how fasting helps in the overall health development.

Why Fasting?

Most of the people are drawn into the idea of fasting due to spiritual means. But the physical, mental, and the psychological benefits are much more interesting and scientifically proven. Fasting has been showing great results for so long; though it is practiced differently in different ideologies. Let us know about various benefits of intermittent fasting, which reflects more to the fasting in the month of Ramzan.

Physical Health Benefits

Intermittent fasting means avoiding eating or both eating and drinking periodically. In simple words, the eating timings can be daily time-restricted or periodic (either in day or night). Let us see physical benefits of the same:

1. Fasting helps in maintaining Blood Pressure and Diabetes
2. While fasting, our body uses fat reserves from various organs, which directly helps in our body weight lose and balancing.
3. Fasting is also called the process of "Cleaning and Healing" because when the blood pressure and diabetes go down it leads to headache, weakness, hunger, etc. which is normal in the beginning. It signifies the start of digestive system cleaning.
4. Fasting helps in the complete detoxification of liver, kidneys, intestine, and skin cells. It leads to healing of sensitive organs intoxicated by bad food habits.
5. Fasting helps in hormonal balance and also cure allergies to some extent.
6. The Immunity improves because of formation of new blood cells and destruction of weak cells. This helps body to deal with cardiovascular problems which is a major reason of death at present.
7. fasting also helps in making body composition better by reducing enormous fat deposits near kidneys and liver.
8. According to some researches, fasting helps in slow aging by improving skin health and around 30% reduction in blood sugar level (mainly in 25-30 days of Ramzan).

Mental and Psychological Benefits

It is true that sometimes we forget to deal with our mental health which is equally or more important than the physical health. It is no surprise that fasting has some impeccable mental health and psychological benefits. Let us look into some of them:

1. Fasting helps in releasing of Endorphins (happiness hormone) which helps in fighting against stress, anxiety, and depression.
2. Fasting boosts brain proteins which eventually helps in strong bonding between neurons. This further empowers memory and concentration power.
3. The craving for junk food is well controlled during fasting; similarly all types of addiction like smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc. when avoided during fasting helps body to stop avoidable in comings.
4. Fasting leads to less hunger, which leads to less intake of food on an average. This further helps in achieving high metabolism.
5. Fasting is itself a routine which is for good. A new habit to follow is a good memorable thing to be added in daily to-do list.
6. Fasting teaches self-control and discipline which is an important trait of a successful person.

An important thing to remember

Before science could prove the benefits of fasting, the spiritual leaders and gurus in the past practiced the methods of fasting and propagated to their disciples and followers. The main idea, in those times, behind the practice of fasting was to teach the art of having patience and discipline in life.

If we compare with the present scenario, we will see not only in India but across the world the poverty and starvation is killing people everyday. On the other hand, we also see people wasting and disrespecting food. When we fast, our hunger increases to an extent where we are ready to eat or drink the most ordinary of food. 

Say No to Food Waste

This is the time when we realize how wasting of food is biggest sin. Fasting teaches us a lesson not only to save food, but also to feed others which is considered as a 'good' deed. We should follow the saying in Sanskrit "Annam Na Nindyat" which means do not disrespect food.

Conclusion

Fasting is a great practice for physical, mental, spiritual, and psychological well being. It is the best way to live a healthy. It is not mandatory to do it regularly but in a week, 10 days, or a month, it yields the best health benefits for longer run. It might feel difficult and exhausting in the beginning, but when it becomes a habit it improves body from head to toe.