islamic fasting....isn't it unhealthy? ...I don't mean any offence muslims :)?

Question

I heard that when muslims fast they go from 5 AM to 5 PM without eating or drinking anything..for thirty days....doesn't that make their metabolism switch to "starvation mode" ?

Answer 1

it sure does...religious beliefs do not change the course of human biology

Answer 2

Most moslems won't mind the starve. Islamic fasting starts sunrise and ends in sunset. Whatever the time is. In their fasts, they're expected to hold back most of their negative emotions. When you're hungry, you get irritated more from anything that's annoying you during the day. Keeping yourself together is harder to hold than just hunger itself.

I don't think they would starve at all. They would just feel a little bit hungry. Some people who fast regularly throughout the year wouldn't even feel the hunger. And some certain people lose their weight, but they have the other 11 months to gain some. So, I think it's fine. Some doctors here even recommends regular islamic fasting to keep fit.

Answer 3

I am a doctor in UK. In my hospital in London, dinner is served to patients at 7.00 pm and breakfast at 7.30 am. Our doctors, patients and dieticians are happy. In fact there is some medical evidence (I will have to dig out the references), that moderate fasting has some beneficial effects on health. I hope this answers your question.

Fasting during Ramadan is from sunrise to sunset. So the fasting period varies from country to country and according to the season. The Islamic year based on lunar months is shorter and Ramadan can fall in winter or summer.
Fasting is not unique to Islam. Hinduism, Budhism and Jainism promotes it. As you know, Christians do it as well and the type of fast actually varies in different parts of the world.

Answer 4

as a muslim i can tell you no its not we eat in the morning before the fast begins and eat when the sun goes down some other religions fast all day for days at a time and when the sun goes down it is obligatory for us to eat even if it is a date and some water and if by mistake we happen to taste something during the day forgetting that we were fasting i.e making lunch for our children then we consider it a blessing from our Lord and our fast is not broken and there is no specific set time it depends when the sun set and rises and the time during the fast occurs also you will find by the time you do break fast your not really that hungry believe it or not also pregnant women dont have to fast the sick and women who are on their period dont have to fast

Answer 5

My doctor is a devout Muslim and he fasts and he's super thin. He's had many of his Christian patients try the fasting after seeing how fit and lively he is eventhough he's up there in age. I think the fact that they eat most of the required daily calories doesn't allow for the starvation mode to kick in. They're only skipping lunch, since they eat an early breakfast and have dinner too. It's just the time of the meals is shifted and lunch is the only meal lost for a month.

Answer 6

Actually it's from 4 AM to 6 PM (approximately).
In relation to health, It much depends on what you eat befor and after the fasting.
If you eat unhealthy food (in terms that you eat to be full), then it is unhealthy.
If you eat nutricious food with lots of vitamins, etc, then it is healthy, and to some level it's the same as detoxing.

Answer 7

Dr. Biscuit:

First of all, the fast is from dawn to dusk during Ramadan.

I may be wrong, because I am Catholic.

Secondly, most Americans are overweight and could easily go for twelve hours without eating or drinking.

Answer 8

I think it's no eating during day light hours, and as the Islamic month of Ramadan cycles through the year, the years when it falls during the summer will be toughest.
In the west the main causes of death are due to what we eat/smoke. A little restraint is good for you, unless you pork big time after sun down.
Diabetics should adjust their insulin accordingly.

Answer 9

Yea I'm pretty sure when they fast, they have HUGE breakfasts before the sun comes up, and HGUE feasts when the sun goes down. So they're probably not really starving during the day. But I know it IS healthier to eat small meals throughout the day.

Answer 10

ive in simple terms were given it lol ooo earlier i'm getting thumbs down all of us favor to laugh a touch extra- and likely i wont be indignant if absolutely everyone makes a comic book tale about my faith both-oh expensive i dont have one yet not at all thoughts laugh at me besides im no longer gunna call the computer brigade

Answer 11

It might be a little physical unhealthy for the body for that month, but it is mentally healthy to the brain and soul - to know the feel of hunger and suffer, of the poorer.