Metabolic and Physical changes during Fasting.

 .Fasting is practiced not only by religious people but also by those who are interested in gaining its health benefits, fasting is a blessing for Muslims. In this time of discipline, self-sacrifice and other physical, mental and body changes can be experienced.

Fasting is actually good for health by exposing cells to mild stress, improving hormone composition and reducing body fat, while giving digestive system a healthy break.

Body fat and Glycogen During fast body lose water in large amount,  water loss is more than a liter of water per day. This is caused by the metabolism of glycogen. When the body is deprived of food for 12-14 horse continuously,   then it  burns   its own energy stores for normal body functioning and energy. 
The body has 3 main energy stores: Adipose tissue (body fat), glycogen (stored carbohydrates) and amino acids (muscle tissue). The first energy store burn is glycogen. Glycogen is a carbohydrate that is stored in the liver and in small amounts in the muscles. When body burns 1 gram of glycogen for energy, it also uses almost  28 grams of water in his body loss large amount of water during fast. When the amount of store glycogen is low, the body burns relatively more body fat. When the glycogen stores are depleted, the body run entirely on body fat. The body  also uses some amino acids during the entire fast. 2-3 grams of amino acids provide  the body with 1 gram of glucose. As amino acids are not so efficient for the body during fast so body resist the use of amino acids for energy source.

Ketosis : When all the stores of glycogen are depleted it gradually shifts from lipolysis (glucose) to ketosis (ketones). This mechanism is more efficient. As now body use ketones as an energy source instead of glucose. The brain still needs glucose to function properly. The glucose that the brain needs is made from amino acids. Now at this time amino acids play important role.

Growth Hormone: During fast growth hormone release in large amount, at this time body try to save muscle tissue .so the preferred source of energy is fats and carbohydrate.  The amount of free fatty acids that are available significantly increased and shows that the body wants to keep as much lean tissue as possible while burning adipose tissue for energy.

Physical effects: Hunger pangs: these are greatest usually during the first three days of the fast. Because body is adjusting from using the food in your digestive tract (which remains about three days) to consuming stored fats. This is normal physical effect during fast.

Coldness, warmness, breathing and body odor, changes (constipation or diarrhea) due to water intake imbalance, light-headedness, changes in sleeping and dreaming patterns, aches and pains can be felt during the start of fasting.

A white-coated tongue at the beginning of a fast may be a part of throwing off toxins. Lower back pain may occur due to dehydration during fast. Dizziness may be caused by a sudden body position changes.

So after all this discussion, we can say that fasting has not only spiritual but also have significant Health benefits:

      ·         Increased Growth hormone levels

      ·         improved insulin sensitivity

      ·         Reduced blood pressure

      ·         Increased HDL (good cholesterol) levels

     ·        Reduced body fat levels.

    written by:

Saman, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Government College University, Faisalabad.

Tweet