Fasting- Heals Soul and Body

Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic calendar, is the month of blessings and virtue. Muslims all over the world, from food, water and all sorts of ill-habits from dawn till dusk. They indulge in prayers and seek Gods' forgiveness with a pure heart. People keep fast, irrespective of age and gender, to gain spiritual holiness. Interestingly, this ritual is also healthy.
Fasting has always been considered as means of purification of the soul and body. This belief is justifiable. How fasting purifies soul is known by many, and has been preached a thousand times by the religious personalities. But what about purification of the body? Muslim physicians and researchers have been trying to correlate fasting with cleansing the body of toxins and diseases, and have come up with many interesting facts -
Fasting promotes detoxification-
The toxins, that we consume day to day, are stored in our body within fats. Fats are burnt during fasting, which help in release of these toxins, which are then processed and detoxified in the liver.
Fasting increases breakdown of fat and helps in weight reduction-
For our body to run, it needs glucose as source of energy. During fasting, this glucose storage runs out and body has to breakdown fat to survive. Hence, fats are burnt, helping weight reduction.
Fasting reduces blood sugar and controls blood pressure-
Stored glucose is utilised during fasting; insulin production is not required, causing the pancreas to rest, which helps in reduction of blood sugar.
Metabolic rate is reduced during fasting, production of adrenaline and non-adrenaline hormone also reduces, causing control of blood pressure. Plus atherosclerosis (accumulation of fat in vessels) can be prevented by fasting.
Fasting boosts immunity  and helps to overcome addictions
Fasting rests the stomach and encourages healthy diet
Hence, we can see that, fasting literally purifies the body. But, one should know the complications that may arise from fasting as well, though they are non-fatal and can easily be avoided.
Heart burn: Who doesn't complains about this, but this can be aided by avoiding oily, too spicy or deep fried food. Considering fruits and doi-chira, instead of traditional chop-peyaju will be useful. Reducing caffeine intake and avoiding smoking can also help with heart burn
Constipation: This occurs due to dehydration and eating of lot of bhaja-pora (deep-fried food). Increasing the fibre content in food, and drinking plenty of water and fruit juice during iftar and suhur will keep you constipation free. Try having Isap-gul husk regularly. Its extremely helpful during Ramadan.
Headache and Dehydration: These are common conditions during the initial 5-10 days of fasting as the body goes through stress and the weather is hot. Headache can be avoided by usual pain killers and taking rest. Try avoiding direct sunlight, and if you feel disoriented, then stop fasting and drink water with salt and sugar.
If you faint due to dehydration, your legs should be raised above your head by others.
Diabetes control: Regular insulin users or diabetic patients using tablets should seek advice from their GP before fasting, and adjust their drug dosage accordingly. Or else, fasting could be a potential risk to their health.
Now, for concerned parents, its true, that it is difficult to fast for long 13 hours but it is also revitalising. So, help children to practice fasting, encourage them to go through this slight physical stress (if they don't have any exams ahead).  It's more beneficial than harmful, and will help in their spiritual development.
N.B- Our body starts to starve after 8 hours, before that it doesn't feel any difference.
The writer is a doctor of ICDDR,B