How does fasting affect metabolic syndrome?

Highlights: Fasting during the month of Ramadan has a role in reducing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is one of the most common health problems throughout the year. It can be distinguished by a number of apparent symptoms such as an increase in waist circumference and a decrease in the level of beneficial cholesterol. A sedentary lifestyle devoid of movement and exercise is the golden gateway to health problems, most notably metabolic syndrome, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in the United States of America. In a recent study, researchers concluded that Ramadan fasting is beneficial in reducing body weight, fat level blood pressure, and increased blood sugar levels.

Metabolic syndrome, or what is known as metabolic syndrome, is seen as a chronic problem that later leads to harmful health effects, but what is striking about it is the role of fasting during the month of Ramadan in reducing its risks.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan has a role in reducing metabolic syndrome (PEX).

Metabolic syndrome is one of the most common health problems throughout the year, and it can be distinguished by a number of apparent symptoms such as an increase in waist circumference, an increase in the level of triglycerides and a decrease in the level of beneficial cholesterol, as well as an increase in blood pressure, and it rises during fasting, which is why it is considered metabolic syndrome. Or what is known as metabolic syndrome, as a chronic problem that later leads to harmful health effects, but what is striking about it is the role of fasting during the month of Ramadan in reducing its risks, as a recent study indicates the positive health effects of fasting on metabolic syndrome.

What is metabolic syndrome?

“I have not been satiated for 16 years, because satiety weighs down the body, hardens the heart, removes intelligence, brings sleep, and weakens the person from worship.” Imam Al-Shafi’i.

Read also

list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4

To follow a healthy lifestyle.. Learn how to adjust the relationship between eating and sleeping

list 2 of 4

Before it accumulates silently.. Here is a lifestyle to reduce harmful cholesterol

list 3 of 4

The Jenny Craig diet...the diet of Hollywood stars and wealthy Americans

list 4 of 4

Despite its health benefits... discover the dark side of the Mediterranean diet

end of list

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one in three adults in the United States of America suffers from metabolic syndrome, and although there are no direct and specific causes that cause metabolic syndrome, its incidence is linked to a sedentary lifestyle that does not include sufficient movement, and chronic stress, With a number of other factors.

Abdominal obesity is one of the most prominent symptoms of metabolic syndrome (Getty)

Metabolic syndrome indicates the possibility of developing cardiovascular and blood diseases, and increases the risk of diabetes, stroke, or all three together. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in the United States of America, metabolic syndrome includes symptoms, the most important of which are:

Abdominal obesity, meaning the risk circumference is greater than 35 inches for women and greater than 40 inches for men.
High blood pressure, where normal blood pressure is 120/80, and high blood pressure is associated with obesity and insulin resistance.
Increased blood sugar (glucose) during fasting.
High levels of triglycerides in the blood.
Low levels of good cholesterol in the blood.

A sedentary lifestyle devoid of movement and sports is the golden gateway to a number of health problems (Pixels)

Why does the problem get worse throughout the year?

A sedentary lifestyle devoid of movement and exercise is the golden gateway to a number of health problems, most notably metabolic syndrome. Then the problem increases with types of food rich in sugars and carbohydrates, as the digestive system usually breaks down the foods that are eaten and turns them into sugar. Then comes the role of the pancreas in Production of insulin, which is a hormone that helps sugar enter the cells in order to use it as a source of energy.

Some people suffer from insulin resistance, which leads to high blood sugar levels, even with the body's increased secretion of insulin, as an attempt to lower blood sugar, which subsequently leads to weight gain, decreased activity, and even metabolic syndrome.

The possibility of infection increases due to more factors, including:

Getting older.
Ethnic origin: Women of Latin origin are more likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome.
Obesity.
Having diabetes.
Cardiovascular diseases.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver.
Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Sleep apnea.

Fasting and metabolic syndrome

In a recent study on the effect of Ramadan fasting on the components of metabolic syndrome, researchers concluded that Ramadan fasting is beneficial in reducing body weight, fat level, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels during fasting, which may contribute to reducing obesity and lowering the risk of heart disease. And blood vessels, improve blood pressure, enhance blood sugar control, and then had a positive effect on the components of metabolic syndrome.

Study: Ramadan fasting helps reduce body weight, fat levels, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels during the day (Pixels)

Not only that, some foods that are consumed more during the month of Ramadan, especially all kinds of nuts, contribute positively to protecting against metabolic syndrome, and also alleviating its symptoms if it occurs.

In a study on the role of consuming daily nut snacks in reducing risk factors for metabolic syndrome, researchers concluded at the end of 2023 that consuming nuts reduces waist circumference and blood fat levels as well as a number of benefits.

Despite the bad reputation of nuts due to their high calories, evidence indicates that eating nuts regularly has positive effects on health, the most important of which are:

Improving blood cholesterol levels.
Helping to lose weight.
Reducing the risk of colon cancer.
Reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome in young people.

The study, which lasted for 16 weeks and included participants eating walnuts in particular, resulted in a set of results, the most important of which were:

Low waist circumference in females.
Improves insulin levels in the blood.
Metabolic syndrome scores improved significantly, decreasing by 67% in females and 42% in males.

But the recommended portion is not open-ended, as the same study recommends consuming daily amounts of intoxicants amounting to 18 whole walnuts, or 49 pistachios, stressing that nuts are not a magic solution if they are not an important part of a balanced and varied diet that includes whole grains. Lean protein, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products.

Nuts are not a magic solution if they are not an important part of a balanced diet (Bixaby)

Despite the chronic suffering that metabolic syndrome presents to its sufferers as it is a lifelong condition, introducing some lifestyle changes, especially in the case of already suffering from heart disease or diabetes, would maintain the stability of the condition and alleviate the symptoms. Required lifestyle changes:

Healthy diet.
Habitual physical activity and exercise.
Stop smoking of all kinds.
Losing excess weight.

Source: websites