Intermittent Fasting

It is written in the Hadith of the Prophet , that Prophet David was the one who exercised the best fast. Fasting every other day.

The Prophet Muhammad, PBUH himself used to fast every Monday and Thursday, which is considered Sunnah i.e. something the Prophet would practice but is not obligatory , however favoured to follow.

Unlike the month of Ramadan, where fasting is prescribed for a continuous lunar month of fasting for 28-30 days depending on the sighting of the moon, here we are discussing intermittent fasting which may or may not be practiced everyday and is dependant on the mental, physical and spiritual state of oneself.

Anyone who has tried fasting, either as a child or grown up will admit to their patience being tested. Having something at hand but abstaining from it for spiritual reasons is the pinnacle of faith and can have great spiritual benefits for our inner selves and also improves our resolve and focus.

Keeping a promise in front of people and also behind closed doors is a testament of faith and is the key to prayers being answered and a closeness from the Lord of the Heaven, the Creator.

Moses (AS) was requested to fast 40 days before the revelation of the Torah, most likely to free him of sins and increase his resolve when speaking to the Creator on Mount Sinai.

For us regular humans, who will not receive prophecy, fasting can lead to closeness to the creator. In Islam food is not the only thing to be abstained from during the fasting period, but sexual intercourse , looking at opposite gender privates and swearing i.e. you are not allowed to pick fights with people whilst fasting.

As humans we are encoded to be attracted to the opposite sex and more beauty means more attraction. So during fasting we must abstain. Food is particular challenging because it is something we are dependent on, and we are attracted to smell, look and taste of food and so abstaining from it can be even more difficult.

What does fasting have on our health and brain function?

The first and most obvious aspect of fasting that you will notice is that it gives you more time to be productive.

Fasting eliminates the 2 minute drinks break that may develop into a 3 hour debacle followed by lethargy and forgetfulness.

Whilst fasting you will be more time conscious and will find you have more time available to carry out tasks.

Time becomes relative

Fasting can be difficult to overcome if you are always time conscious and angry about the slow moving hands of the hour. To overcome these feelings especially during hunger pangs when you usually have your meals, your brain can be distracted by doing tasks.

In other words fasting will improve your focus for longer durations of time , eliminate distractions and reduce brain fog.

Mentally you will be able to zone into a task and complete it wholeheartedly knowing that there was nothing that distracted you during its completion.

You may find the list of 5 things to do that are usually incomplete by the end of a regular day can be easily completed whilst fasting with room to spare.

Plan ahead

Fasting can be mentally and physically demanding and can lead to a sense of helplessness and vulnerability. People may find character flaws in themselves and can be lost and begin to ponder at ones own fate. Survival becomes at the top of the agenda and thus anger into the situation your are currently facing may start to creep in, causing depression and resentment at the status quo and those who put you in a debacle in the first place. You may find a long chain of injustices that have occurred to you that will spark up during your fasting period.

Avoid that. The circle of bad thoughts and negativity can be overcome by planning.

Yes plan tomorrow and do not go to bed with writing a list of things to do as you wake up. If you work then this should lighten your planning load. But if you have an entire day to yourself plan the following day. This is with the intention of being productive but also ensuring that your mind is occupied with positivity and your not spending your day resentful and depressed.

To-do-list

Depending on the level of work load you have created for yourselves and the size of the tasks at hand. Ensure you have some time when you can step away from the computer, the kitchen or the workplace and change your brain function to something that is lighter. This will reduce over thinking, provides a fresh perspective on things, (useful if you are creative and innovative) and avoids brain lockdown , which can be associated with memory blocks, stress and over performance.

Some research suggests that intermittent fasting may be more beneficial than other diets for reducing inflammation and improving conditions associated with inflammation and brain function, such as:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke