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THE HEALTH | MARCH-APRIL , 2022 Supported by
| Cover Story ( Medication & Fasting ) |
Fasting within the scope of halalan toyyiban
There are infinite rewards and better health
BY AMAL A . M . ELGHARBAWY
ISLAM IS built upon five pillars embracing faith , prayer , alms , fasting and pilgrimage . Muslims practice fasting during the blessed month of Ramadan as mandatory worship ( ibadah ) and on other specific days during the year as complementary worship ( sunnah ).
Fasting is a unique act of obedience to God . Among others shows one ’ s devotion and sincerity to God with profound god consciousness ( taqwa ) being the outcome of this act of worship , besides the health benefits of fasting described in this article .
“ God the Exalted and Majestic said : ‘ Every act of the son of Adam is for him , except the fasting which is ( exclusively ) for Me , and I will reward him for it . Fasting is a shield …….”
[ Al-Bukhari and Muslim ]
Fasting during Ramadan is a type of “ time-restricted eating ”. It entails refraining from food and drink intake from dawn to dusk for the entire month . Fasting causes considerable changes in both energy balance and diet composition , in addition to alterations in meal and drink intake time .
Additionally , it is associated with countless health benefits that have encouraged researchers to develop the concept of intermittent fasting since the early 20th century as a therapeutic approach to resolving some medical conditions such as diabetes that results from insulin resistance . Muslims have had this golden remedy in their hands for over 1,400 years !
Halalan toyyiban diet is an essential advantage from fasting
Headaches , heartburn , constipation , dehydration , anaemia , and poor sleep quality are examples of health discomfort associated with fasting , mainly if an individual is not accustomed to fasting other than during Ramadan .
Those health discomforts may be precluded by consuming a toyyiban diet . Halalan toyyiban diet means permissible foods that are not harmful and safe to consume , as underlined by the shari ’ ah .
“ They ask you ( O Muhammad ) what is lawful for them ( as food ). Say , “ Lawful unto you are At- Tayyibaat ( all kinds of halal foods )…………”
[ Al-Ma ’ idah ( The Table Spread ) 5:4 ]
It symbolises a concept of wholesomeness , which comprises quality , cleanliness , safety for all and sustainability . The factor of food intake and nutrition is interrelated with good human practices . It indicates that a halalan toyyiban diet ensures performing pious practices and taqwa ( piety or god consciousness ) to attain acceptance by God .
It is also vital during fasting as it certifies human quality as it initiates humankind ’ s physical and spiritual development and calms the mind and soul .
Practices in determining healthy food are essential ; even when Muslims are fasting , this effort is needed to determine which foods are good ( toyyib ) for them . The knowledge of how to preserve human health is rooted in the words of the Qur ’ an :
“ Children of Adam , dress well whenever you are at worship , and eat and drink [ as We have permitted ] but do not be extravagant : God does not like extravagant people .”
[ Al-A ’ raf ( The Heights ) 7 : 31 ]
The Qur ’ an advises humanity to balance their food and drink intake , consume only what is useful , restrain the desire for excess , and balance the diet in kind , amount , and preparation . Nutrient deficit or saturation can both impair absorption and induce illness .
Fasting , health and wellbeing : medication or natural remedy ?
After eight to 12 hours of fasting , the body attempts to save the little blood sugar remaining and relies on fat . Because a low insulin level causes blood vessels to dilate , more oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the working muscle and other organs .
As the body begins to use fat as fuel , the levels of biochemicals that govern sugar and fat , such as growth hormone , cortisol , glucagon , and adrenaline , rise dramatically . During fasting , glucose homeostasis is maintained by meals taken at night before dawn and glycogen storage , which means the body is not starving .
\ We know that insulin has a central role in the metabolism of sugar . It controls the rate of glucose utilisation so that the amount of blood glucose is kept within strict limits ( the average fasting blood glucose concentration is 80 to 90 mg / dL ).
The drop in insulin secretion and rise in glucagon ( liver storage ) levels during Ramadan fasting are the significant components that stimulate fat-burning . However , to benefit from this scenario , foods with a low and medium glycemic index ( GI ) should be taken at sunset to avoid spikes in insulin and glucose .
GI is a value used to measure how much specific food affects blood sugar levels . For example , when breaking fast , you can combine oat soup with dates , an adequate portion of non-starchy vegetables ( up to 300g ), and grilled or baked protein of choice .
In principle , a diet that mixes low GI ( below 55 ), medium ( 55-70 ), and high GI ( over 70 ) foods contributes to controlling the blood glucose level and would grant you