Fasting has mental and physical benefits, says expert

JAKARTA (JP): Moslems see Ramadhan as a month of blessing that provides them with the opportunity to purify themselves. They hope that, through fasting, God will reward them with forgiveness for their wrongdoings. They also believe God will return their good deeds many times over.

Fasting is one of the five pillars in Islam, as stated in Sura Al-Baqara 183. Ye who Believes! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self restraint.

Only the aged, pregnant women, nursing mothers, sick people and those who are traveling long distances are exempted from this obligation.

Dr. Zamakhsyari Dhofier, a lecturer at the State Academy for Islamic Studies (IAIN) in Jakarta, said recently the fasting month serves to bring Moslems closer to God and to seek His mercy.

"Fasting is not intended to make people feel thirsty and hungry; it has a transcendental meaning, which is to guide Moslems to achieve the highest point of religious devotion," he said. Moreover, research reveals fasting has both moral and physical virtues.

According to a newly-released book by Moslem scholar Prof. Hembing Wijayakusuma, entitled Puasa itu Sehat (Fasting is Healthy), fasting holds mental and physical benefits.

In his book, Hembing describes how fasting might boost the immune system. During a fasting period, more than 600 billion body cells work hard to stimulate one's antibody system.

"People shouldn't worry about getting sick and hungry when they are fasting," he said.

The human body has natural energy reserves (glycogen) derived from carbohydrate intake which are adequate to support the body for 25 hours.

People fasting have the opportunity to let their digestion systems become inactive temporarily.

"Our digestive system works hard at processing food intake throughout the day," Hembing, a professor at the University of Dongshins University in South Korea, told a seminar organized by PT Gramedia Pustaka Usaha last week.

He added the process to make the food absorbable into one's body takes about eight hours. During fasting time, people usually have their sahur (dawn breakfast) at 4 a.m. This means the food processing finishes at 12 noon. From 12 noon to 6 p.m. their stomachs are empty and their digestive systems totally inactive. This means the digestive system has a chance to rest at least one month a year. Even a car engine needs a break, let alone human organs, said Hembing, who is also chairman of the Indonesian Acupuncturists Association.

After taking a break all digestive organs become more active. Their ability to process food and absorb its nutrients increase.

"When you break your fast, start with sweet drinks and sweet cakes. This sort of food contains glucose. Prophet Muhammad suggested we break our fast with some dates, a specific fruit found in Middle East countries," Hembing said.

He added that the Prophet's suggestion has a medical purpose. The sweet dates are rich in nutrition and glucose. "When we eat dates, our bodies will immediately regain the glucose and energy badly needed after fasting for more than 12 hours," he explained.

Hembing also suggested people have sahur before fasting. "We need energy reserve throughout the day, and sahur meals provide us with these needs. If we have enough energy in the body, there is no reason to lead an idle life during the fasting month," he said.

Fasting is also a time to limit food supply into one's body. There is a huge amount of toxic waste including urine, CO2, sweat and feces in one's body. "If we eat too much, we pose the risk of piling up hazardous waste in our intestines. It could also lead to constipation," Hembing explained.

Another encouraging fact shows that fasting improves human antibody system. Research from the University of Osaka in Japan revealed fasting can increase the amount of leukocyte, or white blood cells, in a fasting person's body.

The researches involved a number of volunteers who were asked to fast for a certain period of time to study the impact of fasting on their bodies.

The research's results showed that in the first six days of fasting, there was no indication of any increase in white blood cells.

In the seventh to tenth days of fasting, the team found that the amount of leukocyte dramatically increased. The rise of the amount of white blood cells will enhance one's antibody (immune) system which protects the body from various external attacks.

A number of medical experts in South Korea, China, Taiwan, and the United States have recommended fasting as an alternative medical therapy for several diseases, including hypertension, cancer, diabetes mellitus, insomnia, kidney failure and ovarium cancer.

Psychological

In addition to series of physical benefits, fasting can have a positive psychological impact, Hembing said.

He mentioned the newest finding in the psychiatric world proved fasting could help improve one's Emotional Quotient (EQ). Psychologically, a human being is determined not only by his/her Intelligence Quotient (IQ) but also by his/her EQ.

EQ influences the development of human behavior. It influences people's abilities to manage their self-control, self-discipline, empathy, affection, anger, and so on.

When fasting, Moslems are required to properly control their emotions and enrich their spiritual lives. Fasting can eliminate stress, depression and frustration. It can also cure various emotional problems, such as anger, jealousy and hatred.

Fasting is a time for exercising self-control and greater discipline, the scholar added. (raw)