Ramadan fasting and effects on our brain
This month millions of Muslims are entering Ramadan, with fasting an important part of the Islamic religion. Fasting in Ramadan also has numerous physical benefits. Recent scientific researches have shown that fasting can regenerate our immune system, and most importantly boost our brain functioning. Imagine just after only approximately six hours of fasting, our body starts producing more of the human growth hormone (HGH) and this hormone alters the metabolism process in our body. This hormone decreases the inflammation process in our body and improves autophagy regulation. Autophagy is a process in which there are a clean-up and recycling of unused or damaged cell components (“cellular junk”) and thereby promotes the health and survival of our cells. Moreover, fasting improves the levels of a protein -brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Deficits in this protein results declining in cognitive functioning during aging such as Alzheimer’s. Therefore fasting has a neuroprotective effect and contributes to healthy aging. This also affects our brain functioning very positively. All these positive changes benefit our brain during fasting. For example, our brain starts functioning more better and new cell formation also happens during fasting. Recent studies have also been shown that fasting has an anti-aging effect on our brain. Because fasting can reduce the neurodegeneration process in our brain. Studies on the animal model in the lab have been shown that fasting also improves concentration and increases neuroplasticity.
The benefits of fasting is not new information. Intermittent fasting is a very popular topic and has been widely used for medical purposes. For example, in 2016 Japanese cell biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his research on the benefits of fasting. According to his research during fasting autophagy activates where cells destroy viruses and bacteria and get rid of damaged structures. This process is a very important process for cell health, renewal, and survival.
Imagine when we feel we are ‘hungry’ for something for example hungry for attention, hungry for success. It means we really want it and we have full energy for it. Therefore, fasting and being hungry motivate us towards our goals which increase our concentration and focus. That is why fasting has a tremendous effect on good concentration.
When we eat after fasting in our brain the neurons shift their mode to a “growth” mode. In this mode they produce lots of proteins, grow, and form new synapses. As a result, this process leads to neuroplasticity, learning, memory, and the resistance of the brain to stress. As fasting can help to relieve the inflammation process, it can also help to prevent neurodegenerative disorders such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s.