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Islamic Fasting and Health: Difference between revisions
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
Medical fasting can have [[health]] benefits | Medical fasting can have [[health]] benefits. As we will explain here, Islamic fasting, however, differs in many respects, and thus has significant harmful effects on health, national economy and productivity, crime rate, public safety and social behavior. Health effects include heat stress, dehydration, migraines and, for lactating women, the nutritional make-up of their milk, among other harms. | ||
===What is Islamic Fasting?=== | ===What is Islamic Fasting?=== | ||
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The salient features of Islamic fasting are: | The salient features of Islamic fasting are: | ||
* For 30 days every [[Islamic Lunar Calendar|lunar year]] (during the month of Ramadan), waking up before dawn and eating and [[Drinks|drinking]] to prepare for the fast (binge eating is a common habit).<ref name="Anjali Dange"></ref><ref>Abdel-Moneim Said - [{{Reference archive|1=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/963/op11.htm|2=2011-08-28}} Wasting Ramadan] - Al-Ahram Weekly, September 3, 2009</ref> | *For 30 days every [[Islamic Lunar Calendar|lunar year]] (during the month of Ramadan), waking up before dawn and eating and [[Drinks|drinking]] to prepare for the fast (binge eating is a common habit).<ref name="Anjali Dange"></ref><ref>Abdel-Moneim Said - [{{Reference archive|1=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/963/op11.htm|2=2011-08-28}} Wasting Ramadan] - Al-Ahram Weekly, September 3, 2009</ref> | ||
* Refraining from consuming any food or water from dawn to sunset | *Refraining from consuming any food or water from dawn to sunset | ||
* Breaking the fast at sunset and again eating and drinking to prepare for the day ahead. | *Breaking the fast at sunset and again eating and drinking to prepare for the day ahead. | ||
Some Muslims claim eating a small amount of [[food]] is the correct Islamic way however we cannot function for the whole day by eating only a small amount of food at the time of dawn. This would affect our performance even more during the day. | Some Muslims claim eating a small amount of [[food]] is the correct Islamic way however we cannot function for the whole day by eating only a small amount of food at the time of dawn. This would affect our performance even more during the day. | ||
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==Effects on Health== | ==Effects on Health== | ||
In a recent study done on the Arab world, diseases linked to cholesterol and diabetes increased by 27.65% because of overeating.<ref name="ANSA"/> Non-compliance with prescribed treatment regimens is common during Ramadan. <ref>Aslam M, Healey MA. Drug regimens and fasting Moslem patients [Letter]. Lancet 1985;290:1746</ref> Other health effects include: | In a recent study done on the Arab world, diseases linked to cholesterol and diabetes increased by 27.65% because of overeating.<ref name="ANSA" /> Non-compliance with prescribed treatment regimens is common during Ramadan. <ref>Aslam M, Healey MA. Drug regimens and fasting Moslem patients [Letter]. Lancet 1985;290:1746</ref> Other health effects include: | ||
===Dehydration=== | ===Dehydration=== | ||
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===Crime Rate=== | ===Crime Rate=== | ||
In a study done on the Arab world,<ref name="ANSA"/> experts claimed that increases in blood crimes (+1.5%) and theft (+3.5%) were observed during Ramadan. | In a study done on the Arab world,<ref name="ANSA" /> experts claimed that increases in blood crimes (+1.5%) and theft (+3.5%) were observed during Ramadan. | ||
{{Quote||[Egypt] In the past few years, Ramadan — a month usually reserved for pious contemplation and reverence — has been marred by an alarming rise in violent crime, experts have said.<ref>Yasmine Saleh - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3746|2=2011-07-12}} Ramadan saw rise in violent domestic crimes] - Daily News Egypt, November 2, 2006</ref>}} | {{Quote||[Egypt] In the past few years, Ramadan — a month usually reserved for pious contemplation and reverence — has been marred by an alarming rise in violent crime, experts have said.<ref>Yasmine Saleh - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3746|2=2011-07-12}} Ramadan saw rise in violent domestic crimes] - Daily News Egypt, November 2, 2006</ref>}} | ||
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{{Quote||'''Low productivity during Ramadan affects Dubai employees'''<BR><BR>Performance in most companies, institutions and government departments around the Arab world is usually at a low during the month of Ramadan, with poor productivity and constant reported absences.<ref>[http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NjkyOTQ3NTM0 Low productivity during Ramadan affects Dubai employees] - Kuwait Times, September 24, 2007</ref>}} | {{Quote||'''Low productivity during Ramadan affects Dubai employees'''<BR><BR>Performance in most companies, institutions and government departments around the Arab world is usually at a low during the month of Ramadan, with poor productivity and constant reported absences.<ref>[http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NjkyOTQ3NTM0 Low productivity during Ramadan affects Dubai employees] - Kuwait Times, September 24, 2007</ref>}} | ||
In [[Bahrain]], the work day is reduced to six-hours instead of the normal eight hours:<ref name="arabnews"/> | In [[Bahrain]], the work day is reduced to six-hours instead of the normal eight hours:<ref name="arabnews" /> | ||
{{Quote||Alaa Al-Mohammadi, 27, works as a teaching assistant at King Abdul Aziz University, which, during Ramadan, opens between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Al-Mohammadi noticed the low level of productivity during the month of Ramadan, especially among students. “On account of the nature of the month when people stay up all night, absenteeism increases among students,” she said.<ref name="arabnews"/>}} | {{Quote||Alaa Al-Mohammadi, 27, works as a teaching assistant at King Abdul Aziz University, which, during Ramadan, opens between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Al-Mohammadi noticed the low level of productivity during the month of Ramadan, especially among students. “On account of the nature of the month when people stay up all night, absenteeism increases among students,” she said.<ref name="arabnews"/>}} | ||
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==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
Intermittent and prolonged fasting is generally not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Depriving the body of water and essential nutrients by dividing and postponing meals to irregular intervals does nothing to limit consumption. In-fact it causes a host of health, performance and mood disorders. Fasting is not normally prescribed for the well being of human beings. Instead, it is commonly understood that eating healthy, smaller-portioned meals, interspersed throughout the day is far better in maintaining a well-balanced diet and far more forgiving on a person's metabolism. Any claims that prolonged and intermittent fasting contributes to the well-being of an individual's health are misleading, based on the scientific studies that prove otherwise. | Intermittent and prolonged fasting is generally not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Depriving the body of water and essential nutrients by dividing and postponing meals to irregular intervals does nothing to limit consumption. In-fact it causes a host of health, performance and mood disorders. Fasting is not normally prescribed for the well being of human beings. Instead, it is commonly understood that eating healthy, smaller-portioned meals, interspersed throughout the day is far better in maintaining a well-balanced diet and far more forgiving on a person's metabolism. Any claims that prolonged and intermittent fasting contributes to the well-being of an individual's health are misleading, based on the scientific studies that prove otherwise. The only benefit of fasting that can be claimed, then, must be metaphysical. However, what is clear is that the practice has concrete and definite physical, social, and economic harms. | ||
==Responses to Apologetics== | ==Responses to Apologetics== | ||
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==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
* [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20080914093305299C824902 Ramadan diet poses health risk - experts] | *[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20080914093305299C824902 Ramadan diet poses health risk - experts] | ||
===Scientific Studies=== | ===Scientific Studies=== | ||
* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9100605 Ramadan diet restrictions modify the circadian time structure in humans. A study on plasma gastrin, insulin, glucose, and calcium and on gastric pH] ''(extract)'' | *[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9100605 Ramadan diet restrictions modify the circadian time structure in humans. A study on plasma gastrin, insulin, glucose, and calcium and on gastric pH] ''(extract)'' | ||
* [http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/related/9198696/%5BRamadan__A_month_of_fasting_with_risk_for_both_nocturnal_overeating_dehydration_and_starving%5D Medical Search Engine Result]'' - more studies on fasting'' | *[http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/related/9198696/%5BRamadan__A_month_of_fasting_with_risk_for_both_nocturnal_overeating_dehydration_and_starving%5D Medical Search Engine Result]'' - more studies on fasting'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist|30em}} | {{Reflist|30em}} | ||
[[Category:Islam and Science]] | [[Category:Islam and Science]] | ||