The Science of Fasting: What Happens to Your Body & Mind

Fasting isn’t just about skipping meals; it’s a powerful physiological reset.

While intermittent fasting (IF) and Ramadan fasting share similarities, they also have key differences:
✅ IF → Typically follows a 16:8 or 18:6 schedule, allowing water, coffee, or tea during fasting hours.
✅ Ramadan Fasting → A dry fast from dawn to sunset (no food or drink), lasting around 12–16 hours daily.

What Happens in Your Body During a Fast?

🔹 Blood Sugar & Insulin Drop – After 12 hours, stored glycogen depletes, and the body starts burning fat for energy (New England Journal of Medicine, 2019).
🔹 Autophagy & Cellular Repair – Around 14–16 hours, cells begin self-cleaning, removing damaged components (Yoshinori Ohsumi, Nobel Prize-winning research, 2016).
🔹 Brain Function Improves – Fasting increases BDNF, a protein linked to learning and memory, reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases (Journal of Neuroscience, 2018).
🔹 Dopamine Reset – Abstaining from frequent eating restores your brain’s reward system, reducing cravings and emotional eating (Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2021).

Ramadan Fasting vs. Intermittent Fasting: Which Is Harder?

📌 Ramadan fasting is stricter → No water, meaning higher initial fatigue but faster metabolic adaptations.
📌 IF allows hydration → Easier on the body but less spiritual discipline compared to Ramadan fasting.
📌 Both improve metabolic health → Research shows Ramadan fasting reduces inflammation, cholesterol, and oxidative stress (Nutrition Journal, 2022).

Fasting Isn’t Just Physical, It’s Mental

🧠 Increased Self-Discipline → Training your body to delay gratification strengthens willpower and focus.
🙏 Mindful Eating → Eating intentionally post-fast reduces overeating and improves digestion.
⚡ Boosted Energy & Productivity → Once your body adapts, you feel more alert, not less.

Your Turn

🔹 If you’ve fasted, what’s your biggest realization?
🔹 Never tried fasting? Try skipping breakfast tomorrow & see how you feel!

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♻️ Repost to help others rethink fasting.
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Thanks for reading!

Selim