Every year during month of Ramadan millions of Muslims fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset.
For the last several years, Ramadan has fallen in the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere.
This year it starts in the spring, with the rising of the new moon on March 11 or 12.
This means that in some countries the days are shorter and the abstinence from food and drink from dawn to dusk lasts between 12 and 17 hours, depending on the position of the country.
Can such fasting be beneficial for health?
Here's what happens to the body during a thirty-day fast.
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The first few days of fasting are the hardest
Technically, the human body does not enter a "fasted state" until about eight hours after the last meal.
This is about the time when the intestines finish absorbing the nutrients from the meal.
Soon after, bodies begin to use stored glucose in the liver and muscles to provide energy.
Later during fasting, when the glucose supply runs out, fat becomes the next source of energy for the body.
When the body starts burning fat, it helps with weight loss and lowers cholesterol levels and the risk of diabetes.
However, a drop in blood sugar levels causes weakness and lethargy.
You may have a headache, dizziness, nausea, and bad breath.
It happens in moments when hunger is at its greatest.
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Caution due to possible dehydration - from the third to the seventh daya
As the body begins to adjust to fasting, fats are broken down and converted into blood sugar.
Reduced fluid intake during the abstinence period must be replaced during the time of day when food and drink are allowed, otherwise dehydration may occur due to sweating.
Meals should contain appropriate 'energy foods', such as carbohydrates and a certain amount of fat.
It is important to consume a balanced amount of nutrients, including protein, salt and water.
Getting used to fasting - from the eighth to the 15th day
By the beginning of the third phase, there should be noticeable improvements in mood, as the body fully adapts to fasting.
Dr Razin Maruf, consultant in anesthesia and critical care medicine at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, says there are other benefits of fasting.
"In normal daily life, we often consume too many calories, which can prevent the body from properly performing other tasks, such as self-healing."
"This is corrected during fasting, allowing the body to pay attention to other functions.
"So fasting can be beneficial to the body by facilitating healing and also preventing and fighting infections."
Detoxification - from the 16th to the 30th day
During the second half of Ramadan, the body is completely adapted to fasting.
Then the detoxification of the colon, liver, kidneys, and skin is underway.
"At this stage, organ function should regain its maximum capacity.
"Memory and concentration can improve, and you can have more energy," says Dr. Maruf.
"The body should not draw energy from protein. In this phase, the body goes into 'starvation' mode and uses the muscles for energy.
"It occurs due to prolonged continuous fasting over several days or weeks."
"As the Ramadan fast is only observed from dawn to dusk, there is enough time to consume food and fluids that provide energy.
"This protects the muscles and helps with weight loss."
So, is fasting beneficial for health?
Dr Maruf says yes, but under certain circumstances.
"Fasting is good for our health because it helps us focus on what and when we eat.
"However, while a thirty-day fast can be beneficial, a continuous fast is not recommended."
"Constant fasting is not a good solution for long-term weight loss, because eventually your body will stop turning fat into energy, and will instead look for it in muscle.
"It's unhealthy and means your body goes into 'starvation mode'."
Dr. Maruf indicates that intermittent fasting or a diet that would include fasting several days a week and healthy eating on other days, would be a healthier solution than constant fasting for several months.
"Proper abstinence from food and drink during fasting should allow you to replenish your energy stores on a daily basis, which can mean shedding pounds without burning precious muscle tissue."
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