Jakarta \u2013 Every Ramadan, more than 200 million Muslims in Indonesia\nobserve fasting from dawn until sunset.<\/p>\n
Activities continue as usual: work, university, school, and busy\ncommutes before breaking the fast. Behind this routine, the body\nundergoes remarkable biological processes.<\/p>\n
Fasting is not merely a spiritual practice, but also a natural\nadaptation process that has become part of the human metabolic system.\nBiology helps us understand how the body responds to fasting and why\nthis practice, when properly conducted, can support balanced living.<\/p>\n
How does this process occur?<\/p>\n
Phase One: The body stores energy (glycogenesis). After pre-dawn\nmeals or breaking the fast, the body has sufficient energy. Glucose from\nfood enters the bloodstream. Some is used immediately as energy, and\nsome is stored as glycogen through a process called glycogenesis.<\/p>\n
This glycogen is stored, particularly in the liver and muscles, as\nshort-term energy reserves. According to Mackieh et al.\u00a0(2024), this\nprocess is controlled by the hormone insulin and functions to keep blood\nsugar levels stable. At this stage, the body is like \u201csaving energy\u201d for\nlater use, when there is no food intake. This demonstrates that the\nhuman body is indeed designed to withstand periods without eating.<\/p>\n
Phase Two: The body uses reserves (glycogenolysis). When fasting\nbegins and there is no longer calorie intake, the body does not\nimmediately experience energy deficiency. The body will use previously\nstored reserves through glycogenolysis, which is the breakdown of\nglycogen into glucose.<\/p>\n
Fink, Tanaka, and Horie (2024) explain that this process occurs\nwithin the first 8\u201312 hours of fasting. The hormone glucagon increases\nto stimulate the release of glucose from the liver. At this phase, the\nbody remains stable because it is using readily available energy. This\nis why daily fasting, such as Ramadan, is generally safe for healthy\nindividuals.<\/p>\n
However, glycogen reserves are limited. After approximately 12\u201324\nhours, the body must employ alternative methods to generate energy.<\/p>\n
Phase Three: The body adapts (gluconeogenesis and ketosis). As\nreserves begin to deplete, the body enters an adaptation phase. This\nprocess is called gluconeogenesis, the formation of new glucose from\nsources other than carbohydrates, such as amino acids and products of\nfat breakdown.<\/p>\n
Rebello et al.\u00a0(2025) explain that at this phase the body also\nincreases fat burning and produces ketone bodies. Ketones can be used as\nan alternative energy source, particularly by the brain. The body\u2019s\nability to switch from one energy source to another is called metabolic\nflexibility.<\/p>\n
In other words, fasting is not an emergency condition for the body,\nbut rather part of the natural mechanism for survival. During Ramadan\nfasting, this process occurs daily and returns to normal upon breaking\nthe fast.<\/p>\n
Beyond changes in energy use, fasting is also linked to autophagy,\nthe mechanism by which cells cleanse themselves of damaged parts. This\nprocess helps maintain cell quality and is believed to play a role in\npreventing degenerative diseases.<\/p>\n
Simply put, fasting gives the body an opportunity to perform\n\u201cinternal maintenance\u201d. When energy intake is limited, the body focuses\nmore on repair and systemic efficiency.<\/p>\n
Fasting also affects hormonal balance. When blood sugar levels drop,\ninsulin follows suit. Over the long term, this can increase insulin\nsensitivity. Growth hormone also tends to increase, helping to maintain\nmuscle mass and support fat burning.<\/p>\n
Fazeli and Steinhauser (2025) explain that controlled dietary\nrestriction can have positive effects on metabolic health and may reduce\nthe risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, particularly when\naccompanied by balanced eating patterns when not fasting.<\/p>\n
In the context of Indonesian society facing increased cases of\nobesity and metabolic disorders, scientific understanding of fasting\nbecomes increasingly important.<\/p>\n
Ramadan can serve as an opportunity to improve consumption patterns\nand lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, the three main processes in fasting\u2014glycogenesis\n(storing), glycogenolysis (using reserves), and gluconeogenesis\n(creating new sources)\u2014reflect the principle of balanced living. There\nis a time to store, a time to use, and a time to adapt.<\/p>\n
In modern life that is fast-paced and instant, we often follow a\npattern of endless consumption, whether food, information, or work\npressure. Fasting introduces a pause. This pause is not only biological\nbut also psychological.<\/p>\n
Practising self-restraint helps increase discipline, self-control,\nand awareness of actual needs. Several studies show that self-control\ntrained through fasting is linked to emotional stability and better\nstress management ability. In other words, metabolic balance goes hand\nin hand with mental balance.<\/p>\n
Although fasting has many benefits, it is not suitable for everyone.\nPeople with chronic diseases, pregnant women, or the elderly with\ncertain health conditions should consult medical professionals.\nAdditionally, the quality of pre-dawn and breaking-fast meals is\ncrucial. Overeating when breaking the fast can actually disrupt the\nmetabolic balance that has formed during fasting.<\/p>\n
Ramadan is not only a religious event, but also a biological and\nsocial phenomenon experienced by millions of people simultaneously. From\na biological perspective, fasting demonstrates that the human body\npossesses remarkable adaptive capacity.<\/p>\n
From a life perspective, fasting teaches rhythm: when to hold back,\nwhen to satisfy, and when to balance.<\/p>\n
Science does not replace the spiritual meaning of fasting, but\nenriches our understanding of the wisdom behind it. When biological\nprocesses, such as glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, and gluconeogenesis\nwork in harmony, the body is in a stable condition. When discipline\nand<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ramadan-from-a-scientific-perspective-towards-balanced-living-1772450264", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }