9 Health Benefits and Tips for Beneficial Ramadan (and Otherwise) Fasting

1. Weight Loss, and Cholesterol and Glucose Reduction

There have been several human studies that support fasting as an excellent tool for weight loss and improved blood sugar. A study in 2015 found that alternate-day fasting trials of 3 to 12 weeks in duration appear to be effective at reducing body weight (≈3-7 percent), body fat (≈3-5.5 kg), total cholesterol (≈10-21 percent) and triglycerides (≈14-42 percent).[1]

Caution: These benefits are lost if you overindulge at suhoor and iftar and keep munching after Iftar.

Next: Fasting and Insulin Sensitivity