The psychological benefits of fasting in Ramadan are worth knowing

The psychological benefits of fasting

In healthy adults, Ramadan fasting has no adverse effects on the body. Ramadan fasting is actually referred to as a non-medicinal method to minimize risk factors for disease.

Study entitled Physiological changes during fasting in Ramadan shows some of the benefits of fasting. When fasting, the number of red blood cells and white blood cells increases and cholesterol decreases.

In addition, fasting also has psychological or mental health benefits. When fasting, the body releases hormones that can help improve anxiety, maintain mood, and reduce stress.

1. Fasting takes care of the mood

One of the psychological benefits of fasting is that it helps improve mood (mood) the positive.

In the first weeks of fasting Ramadan, the body begins to adapt to hunger which releases large amounts of catecholamines which make you feel better. Catecholamines are a group of hormones that respond to feelings of stress, including the hormones adrenaline, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Study entitled Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Endorphin and Endocannabinoid level in Serum also provides an explanation of some of the hormones that the body may produce during fasting.

The journal states that fasting can increase endogenous opioids and endorphins. Both are hormones that can induce feelings of happiness and can suppress the negative effects of stress, making it calmer and more relaxed.

2. Fasting increases resistance to stress

Another psychological benefit of fasting in Ramadan is that it can reduce stress and reduce anxiety.

In the book entitled The Fast Diet , Michael Mosley said fasting can cause the release of protein production to the brain called BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor) .

This released brain protein has an effect similar to that of antidepressant drugs, which can lower levels of anxiety, stress, and mild depression.

"This (fasting) has been shown to protect brain cells and can reduce depression and anxiety," Mosley was quoted as saying Al Jazeera .

He emphasized that fasting which is meant in his explanation is a form of fasting ' time-restricted eating ' , namely fasting which only eat for a certain time, such as fasting in Ramadan.

3. Fasting improves sleep quality

The benefits of a fasting routine can help the body's condition to remain balanced for sleep which is good for a person's psychology.

Research shows restricting eating to 8-12 hour breaks can help maintain a healthy body weight and avoid high blood sugar.

The time limit for eating that is determined when fasting can also strengthen a person's biological clock cycle (circadian) or commonly known as the time the body should sleep.

Psychologist Michael J Breus Ph.D. in Psychology Today explained that when the biological clock is strengthened and synchronized it will have a dominant effect on the ease and quality of one's sleep.

The combination of consistency and quality of sleep can make the body feel fresher and protect one's health as we age and over time.

Nutrition of fasting for breaking and suhoor

To get the physical and psychological health benefits of fasting in Ramadan, also pay attention to the nutritional intake of fasting that you consume at dawn and breaking the fast.

Make sure that the intake of suhoor nutrition is able to provide sufficient energy for the body from fasting to breaking the fast. Fulfill the needs of vitamins, protein and carbohydrates to be healthy and fit in worship.

Meanwhile, nutrition for breaking the fast that the body needs to replace lost energy. There are three things that are needed, namely foods that have lots of fluids, are low in fat, and contain natural sugars.

It is clear that apart from having many physical uses, fasting also has psychological benefits that are useful for the quality of your soul.