Muslims in America Fasting Ramadan: Benefits

With the start of Ramadan the Muslism in America are fasting, which means a month of obligatory daily fasting. Ramadan fasting challenges both the healthy and the sick.

Daily fasts begin at dawn and end with sunset. Special nightly prayers called, Taraweeh prayers are held. The entire Quran is recited in these prayers in Mosques all around the world. This month provides an opportunity for Muslims to get closer to God.

Ramadan fasting is a month when a Muslim should try to: see not what displeases God, peak no evil, hear no evil, do no evil and look to God with fear and hope.

Fasting is an integral part of many of the major religions including Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Many are dubious as to whether the physiological effects are as beneficial as the spiritual promoted by these religions. There is a significant community of alternative healers who believe that fasting can do wonders for the human body. In her paper The Health Benefits of Fasting, Will Carroll covers various aspects of fasting and says that fasting does not start immediately after you don't eat, but commences within the first twelve to twenty-four hours of the fast.

"Detoxification is the foremost argument presented by advocates of fasting. A second prescribed benefit of fasting is the healing process that begins in the body during a fast." Metabolic slow rate reduces core body temperature.

"Finally, the most scientifically proven advantage to fasting is the feeling of rejuvenation and extended life expectancy. Part of this phenomenon is caused by a number of the benefits mentioned above. A slower metabolic rate, more efficient protein production, an improved immune system, and the increased production of hormones contributes to this long-term benefit of fasting."

Carroll also writes that despite these beneficial points many doctors warn against fasting for extended periods of time without supervision. "There are still many doctors today who deny all of these points and claim that fasting is detrimental to one's health and have evidence to back their statements. The idea of depriving a body of what society has come to view as so essential to our survival in order to heal continues to be a topic of controversy."