How fasting affects the immune system

Weather of Arabia - We receive the month of Ramadan this year and the world is still living in exceptional circumstances with the spread of the Corona virus epidemic, and the pandemic may have made the month of Ramadan very important because of the effects of fasting on the immune system and all body systems, and there are many frequently asked questions about whether fasting weakens immunity and increases From the possibility of infection with the virus, can fasting weaken our immune system?

On the authority of Abu Umama, may God be pleased with him, he said: I came to the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, and said: “Tell me something that I will take from you. ” He said: “ You have to fast, for there is nothing like it .”

The scholar Ibn Al-Qayyim, may God have mercy on him, says : Fasting has a wonderful effect in preserving the external limbs of a person, and preserving his internal strength, for it preserves the heart and all limbs, and brings them back as the day you were born .

There are different types of fasting, but we will talk here about Islamic fasting   As in the month of Ramadan.

How does fasting affect the immune system?

There are many studies conducted on the effect of Ramadan fasting on the immune system, which showed several benefits of fasting on the immune system, including:

1. Rejuvenate the immune system: Fasting helps the body start producing new white blood cells, which boosts the immune system to fight infection. Fasting forces the body to consume stored glucose and fat, and a large amount of white blood cells is broken down. As a result of these changes, stem cells renew the cells of the immune system.

2. Reducing chronic inflammation: Fasting reduces the chronic inflammatory symptoms that occur in the body. The promising results of studies have shown that inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers and C-reactive protein decrease during Ramadan , which reduces inflammation.

This is important in the case of infection with the Corona virus , as the body uses the mechanism of “cytokine storms” to fight the virus, which produces large amounts of inflammatory cytokines, as well as antiviral chemicals.

A cytokine storm triggers an uncontrollable inflammatory response in the patient causing the body's immune system to attack, causing diseases such as respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome ( ARDS ), multiple organ failure, shock and even death.

Read also | Why do some people get severe symptoms when infected with the Corona virus, while others do not show any symptoms

Tips for fasting to boost the immune system

So fasting positively affects the strengthening of the immune system and the renewal of white blood cells, and in reducing the inflammation produced by the immune system, but the extent of the effect of fasting on the immune system depends on the nature of the food and drinks that the fasting person consumes during the period that extends between Iftar and Suhoor, and it is certain that with If the fasting person follows healthy rules and eats balanced meals , the hours of fasting will positively affect his body, and this is represented in losing excess weight , relieving chronic inflammation in the body, in addition to improving insulin resistance and blood sugar rate, and thus improving immunity .

It is important for the fasting person to avoid excessive consumption of calories, and to eat meals that contain many colorful vegetables and fruits, in addition to unrefined starches, healthy proteins, dairy products and reduced-fat cheeses, and to drink an adequate amount of water, not less than two liters per day .

But if the fasting person smokes during iftar hours, drinks a lot of soft drinks and sugary juices, and eats a large amount of fatty foods, sugars and sweets, then this behavior will certainly prevent any positive effect of fasting hours on a person’s health or immunity .