Comments on: Why Religious Fasting Could Be Good for Your Brain http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/ Adventures in being sick, getting better, staying well, from the editors of Health.com Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:45:16 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Abdullatif http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/#comment-4406 Abdullatif Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:01:07 +0000 http://healthpoked.wordpress.com/?p=2261#comment-4406 Yes, fasting is not a 'calorie restriction' something, but it is an exercise to be a good human in all mean (charity, patience, character making and good behavior, learning to patient in hard situations and restoring the ability to lead a poise and ideal life in the rest months. These all do because Allah ordered and He will reward in life after death but the society and public as well individual will get benefited. BR Yes, fasting is not a ‘calorie restriction’ something, but it is an exercise to be a good human in all mean (charity, patience, character making and good behavior, learning to patient in hard situations and restoring the ability to lead a poise and ideal life in the rest months. These all do because Allah ordered and He will reward in life after death but the society and public as well individual will get benefited. BR

]]> By: Muslimah http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/#comment-4402 Muslimah Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:05:10 +0000 http://healthpoked.wordpress.com/?p=2261#comment-4402 Not a bad article at all.However fasting is not a 'calorie restriction' something.Islam encourages us to use everything in moderation .Incidently, T've noticed a prevelant practise that is not good for your health at all. People restrict and starve themselves from food in the day but what happens in the night?..they intake excess calories and just sleep it off.They are just harming themselves more and again this is not practising moderation which we are advised to do.So instead of being healthy people gain weight and and risks themselves to certain diseases. Not a bad article at all.However fasting is not a ‘calorie restriction’ something.Islam encourages us to use everything in moderation .Incidently, T’ve noticed a prevelant practise that is not good for your health at all. People restrict and starve themselves from food in the day but what happens in the night?..they intake excess calories and just sleep it off.They are just harming themselves more and again this is not practising moderation which we are advised to do.So instead of being healthy people gain weight and and risks themselves to certain diseases.

]]> By: Abdullatif http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/#comment-4392 Abdullatif Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:15:49 +0000 http://healthpoked.wordpress.com/?p=2261#comment-4392 Any ritual in Islam it has social, psychological and health benefit beside spiritual For example : Daily five time prayer is a best physical exercise as well emotional bonding with the community even he praying for the spiritual aspect. Fasting has various health benefit as well social and personal development beside it’s spiritual face Zakath (compulsory paying of wealth) beside other charity, meet the requirement of needy and social empowerment beside it’s spiritual aspect. So if other’s ritual doesn’t meet these all then it is not the problem of Islam. Instead of mocking God’s ruling who ready to practice those good things even he is not a believer he and the society will be the beneficiary. I know lot of non-Muslims practice such rituals for their good beings. Any ritual in Islam it has social, psychological and health benefit beside spiritual
For example :
Daily five time prayer is a best physical exercise as well emotional bonding with the community even he praying for the spiritual aspect.
Fasting has various health benefit as well social and personal development beside it’s spiritual face
Zakath (compulsory paying of wealth) beside other charity, meet the requirement of needy and social empowerment beside it’s spiritual aspect.
So if other’s ritual doesn’t meet these all then it is not the problem of Islam. Instead of mocking God’s ruling who ready to practice those good things even he is not a believer he and the society will be the beneficiary. I know lot of non-Muslims practice such rituals for their good beings.

]]> By: Madeleine http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/#comment-4387 Madeleine Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:53:43 +0000 http://healthpoked.wordpress.com/?p=2261#comment-4387 There is definitely evidence to back up the hypothesis that fasting is beneficial for the brain. Sheesh, I don't understand why everyone is so touchy whenever anyone suggests that a religious practice may have practical roots in real life. I mean, it's been long accepted that adhering to a Kosher diet has beneficial health implications. When many people get diseases from pork (trichonosis and so on) it feels reasonable to suggest that people abstain. The same goes for fasting in Islam. I just don't think it's blasphemy to suggest that God looks out for the well-being of people who worship Him. There is definitely evidence to back up the hypothesis that fasting is beneficial for the brain. Sheesh, I don’t understand why everyone is so touchy whenever anyone suggests that a religious practice may have practical roots in real life.
I mean, it’s been long accepted that adhering to a Kosher diet has beneficial health implications. When many people get diseases from pork (trichonosis and so on) it feels reasonable to suggest that people abstain.
The same goes for fasting in Islam. I just don’t think it’s blasphemy to suggest that God looks out for the well-being of people who worship Him.

]]> By: Abdullatif http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/#comment-4359 Abdullatif Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:56:00 +0000 http://healthpoked.wordpress.com/?p=2261#comment-4359 Great Article Muslims do not fast because of medical benefits which are of a secondary nature. Fasting has been used by patients for weight management, to rest the digestive tract and for lowering lipids. There are many adverse effects of total fasting as well as of crash diets. Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake. The calorie intake of Muslims during Ramadan is at or slightly below the nutritional requirement guidelines. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician. Break Your Fasting On Dates By Health & Science Staff http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1157365892233&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout Great Article
Muslims do not fast because of medical benefits which are of a secondary nature.

Fasting has been used by patients for weight management, to rest the digestive tract and for lowering lipids.

There are many adverse effects of total fasting as well as of crash diets.

Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake.

The calorie intake of Muslims during Ramadan is at or slightly below the nutritional requirement guidelines.

In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician.

Break Your Fasting On Dates
By Health & Science Staff
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1157365892233&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout

]]> By: Imran http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/#comment-4358 Imran Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:47:35 +0000 http://healthpoked.wordpress.com/?p=2261#comment-4358 These type of articles make Muslims look stupid. In essence is says Islam is true because science shows it to be true. Fasting is of benefit because it is ordained upon Muslims-you do it because you believe, and God rewards you. The calorie restriction studies don't model Ramadan style-fasting but comprise long term calorie restriction. This type of calorie restriction does extend lifespan, reduces oxidative stress, and have other benefits; but this is not Ramadan style fasting. The one study citing higher activity in the motor cortex responsive to Ramadan style fasting does not show benefit-merely higher motor cortex activity; what does that translate into? better motor responses, better thinking? etc.? What is the benefit? These type of articles make Muslims look stupid. In essence is says Islam is true because science shows it to be true. Fasting is of benefit because it is ordained upon Muslims-you do it because you believe, and God rewards you. The calorie restriction studies don’t model Ramadan style-fasting but comprise long term calorie restriction. This type of calorie restriction does extend lifespan, reduces oxidative stress, and have other benefits; but this is not Ramadan style fasting. The one study citing higher activity in the motor cortex responsive to Ramadan style fasting does not show benefit-merely higher motor cortex activity; what does that translate into? better motor responses, better thinking? etc.? What is the benefit?

]]> By: Faisal http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/#comment-4355 Faisal Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:22:25 +0000 http://healthpoked.wordpress.com/?p=2261#comment-4355 The link to paper is broken in the paragraph: "I emailed Dr. Ratey to find out if those benefits might extend to religious fasting, and he sent me a 2006 paper on the brain functioning of men during the Ramadan fast." Could you share the name and citation of the paper please? The link to paper is broken in the paragraph:

“I emailed Dr. Ratey to find out if those benefits might extend to religious fasting, and he sent me a 2006 paper on the brain functioning of men during the Ramadan fast.”

Could you share the name and citation of the paper please?

]]> By: Bailey http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/#comment-3186 Bailey Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:15:42 +0000 http://healthpoked.wordpress.com/?p=2261#comment-3186 Yes, calorie restriction (fasting) if good for your body since it gives a break from producing more glucose to your body, but how is RELIGIOUS fasting good for you? It it also by means, benefit the mind that you're fasting for God (or whoever you may believe in). Yes, calorie restriction (fasting) if good for your body since it gives a break from producing more glucose to your body, but how is RELIGIOUS fasting good for you? It it also by means, benefit the mind that you’re fasting for God (or whoever you may believe in).

]]> By: jessica http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/#comment-2486 jessica Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:53:34 +0000 http://healthpoked.wordpress.com/?p=2261#comment-2486 i am having a body odour and i need to loose some weight will fasting help? i am having a body odour and i need to loose some weight will fasting help?

]]> By: gabrielle http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/09/17/why-ramadan-might-be-good-for-your-brain/#comment-1789 gabrielle Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:49:04 +0000 http://healthpoked.wordpress.com/?p=2261#comment-1789 really great article. really great article.

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