When speaking about the physiological benefits of fasting, we cannot omit its psychological and spiritual effects. Because the body and brain are part of the same entity, the brain, psyche and spirit reap the same advantages. Fasting is a practice that produces holistic benefits on health. When the body cells are cleansed, the same purification effect occurs in the brain and neurons.

We can then assume that fasting is a convenient tool and a therapeutic method for relieving anxiety, tension, panic attacks and negative thoughts. Because it clears toxicity from cells and neurons, it renews energy and clarifies thinking. Now, I shall explore the connection between fasting, the brain and spirituality.

Though ancient cultures have always believed in the relationship between fasting and spirituality and practiced it for the purpose, modern scientists have only recently discovered the connection. Russian scientists have applied therapeutic fasting for the treatment of schizophrenia. Russian psychiatric Dr. Yuri Nikolayev successfully treated thousands of patients with mental problems, many of them schizophrenics, with fasting. Improvement was so remarkable that most of them managed to normally carry on with their lives after therapy.

Regular fasters describe their own mental states as clearer and more focused with the practice. Not only the body gets cleansed, the brain cells, neurons and nerve tissues lose disruptive residue with fasting. The purified blood after fasts circulates freely to and into the brain to nourish and reactivate neuron functions and facilitate the action of the neuro-transmitters and the communication between neurons. The effect helps improve most brain tasks such as memory, problem-solving abilities, analytical thinking, cognitive performance, motor skills and more. Many thinkers and philosophers used fasting as a tool to improve their mental productivity; intensify deep thinking; increase focus; and clarify the mind and spirit.

This is not all. Fasting was practiced for centuries and millenniums by prophets, saints and worshipers to bring them closer to their Creator, facilitate spiritual communication, understand the unknown, clear perception, transcend the material world, assist in meditation and open the mind to the many acts of worship.

Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, explained that “by fasting, you will gain health.” Jesus (pbuh), too, recommended fasting to keep disease at bay. Other prophets and their followers fasted while they worshiped or meditated. By cleansing the body from the burdens of toxins and disease, they clarified their minds; cleared their spirits and negative thoughts; heightened their intuition; and intensified spirituality, bringing them closer to their Creator. By freeing their bodies and souls from materialism, they transcended human weaknesses like negative thoughts, suspicion, grudge, hatred, spite, lying and pettiness; characteristics that keep people prisoners of the own bodies.

When the body, mind and soul are purified, communication and connection with Allah becomes smoother and more intense. If we take a closer look at worshipers and meditators, we will notice that they remain in recluse for many days with minimum food intake. The process cleanses their bodies and clears their minds and thoughts in order to achieve maximum spirituality, increase the power of reasoning, acquire wisdom, patience and stoicism, which make them rise above indulgence, pain, the human body and its fallibilities, as well as materialism.

There are different types of schools, which practice fasts in their own unique way and for various purposes. The oldest religions and the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) order it to be observed yearly and sometimes on the side to fulfill an ordinance from the Almighty, God, in order to instill abstinence, self-restraint, tolerance, patience and forbearance in the believers to make them learn charity, compassion, social considerations and altruism.

Other ancient cultures and religions reduce food intake to the minimum to help in meditation and in connecting and communicating with the Higher Spirit and to transcend the material and human world.

Recently, modern fasters are following this school of thought to escape from modern lifestyle demands such as stress, responsibilities, work, finances, conflict, family affairs, loss, mixed feelings, bad relationships, emotional disappointments, depression and despair.

Certain contemporary scientists recommend fasting for body and mind detoxification; rebalancing the emotions and mood; treating psychiatric disorders; and extending longevity and more as I mentioned earlier.

Alternative healing suggests fasting purely for health reasons to cleanse the digestive tract, revive the detoxification systems; reset the immune mechanisms; repair and restore cells and neurons; rebalance hormones and neurotransmitters; cleanse nerves and cells; purify the blood; break up excess fat; eliminate toxic, metabolic, food, tissue, dead cells and bacterial wastes; jumpstart the metabolism; speed weight loss; remove calcium deposits from soft tissues (joints, kidneys, blood vessels); energize the body and brain; dissolve mucus; neutralize cancer cells; wipe out bacterial, viral and yeast infections; treat autoimmune disorders; reverse metabolic syndromes (diabetes, hypertensions, obesity); stimulate the healing process; unclog the arteries; clarify the mind and spirit; improve sleep; enhance mental performance and emotional health.

Fasts are practiced in different ways. Fasts for health and detoxification purposes propose drinking plenty of purified or mineral water and fresh fruit and vegetable juices and sometimes whole fruits and vegetables for a limited number of days. While water releases toxins and metabolic waste, fresh fruits and vegetables nourish the body with a variety of nutrients, antioxidants, phytochemicals and enzymes, which cleanse and reset the various organs and systems as well as purify the blood. Moreover, water helps circulate nutrients in the body and dense-nutrient juices build the blood and cleanse and restore cells, organs, tissue, systems and energy. Because certain minerals and vitamins bind with heavy metals (lead, mercury), chemicals, toxins and other harmful particles, they either break toxic waste down and release them or transport them out of the body.

However cleansing fasts, which should not last more than a few days, should not include dairy products, sugar, refined carbohydrates, red meat, fries and, fatty and processed foods. Fasting for obese individuals and with serious conditions should ONLY be under medical supervision.

Fasting in Islam is ordained for the month of Ramadan. Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and other undesirable or harmful practices (smoking, lying...) at dawn; breaking fast is at the setting of the sun. Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) recommended ending fasting with one, three, or five dates and water.

I, suggest the same, plus having fresh whole fruits or juice and plenty of water at fast breaking. Introduction of food should be little by little with easily digestible, nutrient-dense fruits. Meals should come later, starting with salads and vegetables and then very light food with minimum fat, fries, sugar, pastries, creams, syrups, caffeine and desserts. Canned and processed foods should be avoided along with additives, preservatives, soda drinks and diet colas. Raw or roasted nuts and dried fruits make good snacks. Portions should be reduced just enough to give energy. Smaller meals and plenty of water make the person feel physically lighter to help perform prayers with a clearer mental state that intensifies spirituality. Fasting also helps break nasty addictions like smoking and caffeine.

Fasting offers countless benefits. I have presented to you in the three articles its main aspects, which make us achieve body cleansing, healthy energy, disease healing, behavioral improvement, character strength, mental clarity and spiritual fulfillment. With more research, I am sure we shall find more to fasting than we have discussed earlier.

I wish us all, by the end of Ramadan, a rewarding and fulfilling experience, the way God intended it for us. Ramadan Kareem!

N.B.: Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet even if it is natural.