Muslims around the world are fasting over the next month during Ramadan which is one of the five pillars of Islam and occurs every year.
However, this year there is some concern over Muslims going without food and drink for 17 hours a day in the UK as a test of personal strength and communication with God.
If practised correctly and if Muslims have been preparing their minds and bodies in the months before Ramadan, there can be several health benefits, much to some people’s surprise.
A few days into Ramadan, as the body starts to adjust to its new eating and drinking pattern and as higher levels of endorphins appear in the blood, fasters become more attentive, happier, and have an overall feeling of better mental health.
Dr Razeen Mahroof, an anaesthetist from Oxford, has assisted the NHS to record a guide to effective fasting during Ramadan.
He said: “The time of year isn’t always thought of as a way to lose weight because the spiritual aspect is emphasised more than the health aspect, However, it’s a great chance to get the physical benefits as well.”
