Fasting can be done for slimming or religious purposes, with different motivations and expectations. There are other reasons, distinct at least from forced absence of food. But is doing so periodically or frequently harmful?
Stanley - Studies of fasting show that not only do people see improvements in blood pressure and their cholesterol levels, but also in their insulin sensitivity. As is the case with anything done in excess, there may be some bad side effects such as excessive drinking. Additionally, the Assyrian of Iraq didn't eat pork around 1,800 BC because it was discovered to cause bad side effects!
There is one danger, noted in USA, that when pregnant Muslim women fast at certain times they endanger child and health. I can see though it must have benefits but I remember a Jewish friend who fasted, lost a stone and put two on when fast was complete. It seemed to overall increase his obesity.
Stanley, fasting is meant to level the playing field for commoners and Kings by having them experience the pain of the less fortunate and to also teach them self-discipline, tolerance, patience and purity of thought. You can’t get mad without breaking your fast! You can’t insult others while fasting, you can’t cheat while fasting, you can’t hurt anyone without breaking your fast. There is more to fasting than just losing weight.
I am a Christian and I fast to bring my body under subjection so personally it benefits me than endangering my life.
Amir, yes I'm aware of this, which I consider doubtful thinking. This seems little more than a gesture, a kind of subjective drama. Surely, better to aid the unfortunate, setting up social institutions to aid and enable out of poverty, not a gesture which calls attention to the self. Honestly, I cannot see the point. If its meant to stop 'bad' actions well if you need to fast to prevent that, to effectively disable yourself, then you need to think deeply about your moral intentions.
Stanley,
I suspect that no long term harm is caused: I doubt that we evolved amidst an abundance of calories, and so we have a number of adaptations that sequester energy-rich stores (looks at paunch) rather too well.
A day or two without food probably does no harm to the average fit person and might cause one to reflect upon the never-ending buffet that is modern food production.
Prolonged fasting will lead to weakness and interesting hallucinations - no doubt of 'benefit' to some religions that rely on supernatural messaging.
yes, month long fasting cannot be good for a person. surely it produces a shock to the system, especially as described to me fasting all day and gorging at night
Oh, the Jewish gentleman I referred to had become converted to Christianity, so his fasting concerned that religion not the former. His reasons seemed the same, that is identifying with the unfortunate, as above. But who was he really helping? He was making himself feel good, not really helping others.
According to the UK's National Health Service (NHS), there are numerous health risks associated with intermittent fasting.
People who fast commonly experience dehydration, largely because their body is not getting any fluid from food. As such, it is recommended that during Ramadan, Muslims consume plenty of water prior to fasting periods. Other individuals following fasting diets should ensure they are properly hydrated during fasting periods.
If you are used to having breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between, fasting periods can be a major challenge. As such, fasting can increase stress levels and disrupt sleep. Dehydration, hunger or lack of sleep during a fasting period can also lead to headaches.
Fasting can also cause heartburn; lack of food leads to a reduction in stomach acid, which digests food and destroys bacteria. But smelling food or even thinking about it during fasting periods can trigger the brain into telling the stomach to produce more acid, leading to heartburn.
While many nutritionists claim intermittent fasting is a good way to lose weight, some health professionals believe such a diet is ineffective for long-term weight loss.
A number of my Muslim friends have experienced problems while fasting but because of prohibitive tendencies in their culture, Bangla, have spoken to me and not others. I don't think it affects everyone negatively, but I certainly believe that it cannot do any good either. Nice to know statistics. I wonder if strict Muslims die younger as a consequence? Worth finding out.
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