Health professionals say fasting could have major health benefits, as billions of Muslims worldwide are participating in Ramadan this month.
Dr Shireen Kassam, a renowned nutrition specialist and founder of Plant Based Health Professionals UK, shared her expert insights on the health benefits of fasting in Ramadan in an exclusive interview with The Mirror.
According to Dr Kassam, there is evidence to suggest that fasting could have a number of health benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved immune health, and improved blood lipid levels.
Dr. Kassam emphasized that the potential for ‘long-term benefits’ is real, but it requires making dietary changes after the fast. This underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy diet outside of fasting periods for sustained health improvements.
She said: “There is some evidence to suggest periods of fasting may lead to better immune health, lower levels of inflammation and growth factors, and improve blood lipid levels and blood pressure.”
Dr. Kassam explained that fasting leads to beneficial changes in gut bacteria, which is one of the reasons for the wide range of short-term benefits. This reiteration of the immediate health improvements can encourage readers to embrace fasting as a health-enhancing practice.
“On a basic level, fasting usually results in a reduction in the number of calories you consume in a day, and so for some people, it can be easier to lose excess body weight when fasting is incorporated into a weight loss regimen,” she said.
