Shahid Athar, M.D. FACP, FACE
Muslims worldwide observe total fasting (no food or water) between dawn to sunset in the month of Ramadhan. They do so not for losing weight or any medical benefit, but as it is ordained in Qur'an which says:
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those who came before you; that you will perhaps be God-fearing." [Al-Qur'an 2:183]
According to Islamic Law, children below the age of 12, sick patients, travellers, and women who are menstruating or nursing a baby are exempt from fasting. In addition to staying away from food or water for the whole day, they are asked to stay away from sex, smoking or misconduct during the period of fast. In addition, they are encouraged to do more acts of piety i.e. prayer, charity, or reading the Qur'an during this month.
Food is needed by the body to provide energy for immediate use by burning up carbohydrates, that is, sugar. Excess of carbohydrates which cannot be used is stored up as fat tissue in muscles, and as glycogen in liver for future use. Insulin, a hormone from the pancreas, lowers blood sugar and diverts it to other forms of energy storage, that is, glycogen. To be effective, insulin has to be bound to binding sites called receptor. Obese people lack receptor; therefore, they cannot utilize their insulin. This leads to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.
Muslims worldwide observe total fasting (no food or water) between dawn to sunset in the month of Ramadhan. They do so not for losing weight or any medical benefit, but as it is ordained in Qur'an which says:
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those who came before you; that you will perhaps be God-fearing." [Al-Qur'an 2:183]
According to Islamic Law, children below the age of 12, sick patients, travellers, and women who are menstruating or nursing a baby are exempt from fasting. In addition to staying away from food or water for the whole day, they are asked to stay away from sex, smoking or misconduct during the period of fast. In addition, they are encouraged to do more acts of piety i.e. prayer, charity, or reading the Qur'an during this month.
Food is needed by the body to provide energy for immediate use by burning up carbohydrates, that is, sugar. Excess of carbohydrates which cannot be used is stored up as fat tissue in muscles, and as glycogen in liver for future use. Insulin, a hormone from the pancreas, lowers blood sugar and diverts it to other forms of energy storage, that is, glycogen. To be effective, insulin has to be bound to binding sites called receptor. Obese people lack receptor; therefore, they cannot utilize their insulin. This leads to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.
