Jakarta, IO – Ramadan is a great moment for people to maintain or improve their health by, among others, sustaining normal blood glucose and blood pressure levels. Fasting, refraining from eating and drinking for approximately 12 hours, beginning at dawn and ending at Iftar at Maghrib, means the body does not have any calorie intake during that period.
A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis (from over 1,400 participants across 14 studies) found positive effects of intermittent fasting on body weight, body composition, and metabolic health in overweight and obese adults. Unfortunately, many still “violate” the rules, e.g., consuming high-calorie food and beverages during iftar. Meanwhile, maintaining healthy routines such as exercising regularly during Ramadan is often challenging.
During the fasting period, our body will produce energy from various sources. While our body normally obtains energy from the glucose or blood sugar stored in it, during fasting, energy comes from the ketones stored in our fat. The process of converting ketones into energy is called ketogenesis. Ketogenesis reduces fat levels in the body, resulting in weight loss.
According to the findings of the Lorans (London Ramadan Study) study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2021, the ketogenesis process in our body also causes a decrease in insulin levels, which is considered the primary cause of lower blood pressure after fasting.
Fasting can also help lower inflammation and blood lipid levels, and stabilize blood sugar and cholesterol levels. In addition, a study by the National Institute on Aging involving overweight women aged 55 to 77 years old found that eight-week fasting positively impacted memory quality and thinking skills, thus reducing Alzheimer’s risk.
