From a medical standpoint, fasting is a serious metabolic regulation and physiological renewal process for the human body. As a doctor, I want to emphasize that fasting done correctly and in a controlled manner is not only a spiritual purification but also a mechanism that restores the body's biological balance.
The human body is not designed for continuous food intake. The modern lifestyle, with frequent and excessive eating, consumption of high-calorie and processed products, puts continuous strain on the metabolic system. Fasting gives this system a chance to rest for a certain period of time.
Foodinfo.az reports that these words were spoken by deputy and cardiac surgeon Rashad Mahmudov.
"During fasting, the body shifts from using glucose to lipids as an energy source. This shift increases metabolic flexibility, can positively affect the reduction of liver steatosis, and decrease triglyceride and 'bad' cholesterol levels. At the same time, the improvement in insulin sensitivity can support the reduction of type 2 diabetes risk. At the cellular level, the food break activates autophagy mechanisms, strengthening intracellular 'cleaning' processes.
In terms of the cardiovascular system as well, properly conducted fasting may positively impact the stabilization of arterial pressure, reduction of inflammatory processes in the vascular wall, and improvement of endothelial function. In the long term, these are factors that contribute to the reduction of atherosclerosis risk.
Alongside this, the psychological and neurological effects of fasting are also significant.
Control over food brings discipline to a person's overall behavior and decision-making mechanisms. Adaptation to stress increases, mental focus strengthens, and the person begins to establish a more conscious relationship with their own body.
However, the key important point here is that for fasting to be beneficial to health, it directly depends on the controlled and balanced intake of food during iftar and sahur.
If the iftar meal is filled with excessively sugary, fatty, and high-calorie foods, and an excessive amount of calories is consumed in a short time, then the metabolic benefit of fasting decreases and, on the contrary, weight gain and metabolic stress may occur. Along with fasting, adherence to moderation during iftar and sahur is an essential condition.
It should also be noted that fasting does not yield the same medical results for everyone. In cases of severe heart failure, advanced kidney diseases, insulin-dependent severe diabetes, and some other clinical conditions, the fasting issue must definitely be discussed individually with a doctor.
In conclusion, fasting is not just a spiritual worship. When applied correctly and consciously, it is a powerful biological regulatory mechanism that can help restore metabolic balance, reduce cardiovascular risk factors, and enable a person to gain more conscious control over their lifestyle.”