What changes does a month of fasting bring to your body?

HEALTHY AGING: LONGEVITY

Stating that fasting is a powerful biological tool that supports cell regeneration, reduces inflammation, and contributes to longevity—which means healthy aging—Dr. Zahide Karaca, an Internal Medicine Specialist at Anadolu Medical Center, said, "In Ancient Greece, Hippocrates emphasized the healing power of fasting in the treatment of diseases, while Plato and Socrates recommended fasting for mental clarity. Avicenna, on the other hand, argued that 'eating less prolongs life,' maintaining that fasting rests the digestive system and rejuvenates the body."

Restricting food intake for more than 12 hours has also led to the widespread adoption of diet programs such as intermittent fasting due to the benefits it provides. Expressing that scientific fasting methods or religious fasting can have many health benefits when applied correctly, Karaca said, "For individuals without any health problems, these methods can provide a wide range of benefits, from preventing metabolic diseases to strengthening the immune system and even increasing healthy life expectancy."

DIFFERENT FROM SCIENTIFIC FASTING PRACTICES

Discussing the differences between these types of fasting, Karaca said, "Scientific fasting practices applied to prevent aging differ from Ramadan fasting because they do not restrict water consumption. At the same time, in these programs, the duration of fasting can be adjusted according to individual characteristics such as a person's lifestyle or age. It is possible to say that Ramadan fasting is more advantageous in terms of being applied as a community with its religious and cultural aspects, and maintaining controlled fasting for a long period like a month."

BENEFITS OF FASTING

Long-term but controlled fasting delays aging by increasing DNA repair and cellular resilience. It ensures that telomeres, which determine the aging of cells, are depleted more slowly and protects mitochondria, the energy-producing structure of cells.

CELLS LIVE LONGER

Controlled fasting activates a survival mechanism that allows cells to live longer. It helps prevent cancer by suppressing mTOR activation, which is associated with cancer formation.

INSULIN LEVELS DROP

It increases fat burning and metabolic flexibility by lowering insulin levels. Metabolic flexibility is the ability to adapt to different nutritional conditions. In other words, when necessary, the body can change its energy source according to need, producing energy by switching from carbohydrates to fats or proteins.

CALORIE RATIO SHOULD BE CONSIDERED

Fasting also supports the renewal of immune cells, making the body more resistant to diseases. However, it should also be kept in mind that excessively low calorie intake or malnutrition can weaken the immune system.

It increases focus by strengthening brain functions. It promotes cellular regeneration by initiating the process of autophagy, which means cleaning and recycling damaged parts of cells. It has been proven by scientific studies that the positive effects of this regeneration continue even after the fasting ends.

KEEPS CHRONIC DISEASES UNDER CONTROL

Inflammation, which is part of the body's defense mechanism, is a defensive reaction that occurs against any stress factor by immune system cells. Low-level, persistent inflammation paves the way for many chronic conditions. Regulating insulin levels during fasting, reducing the formation of free radicals, and activating the cell regeneration mechanism can help keep chronic diseases under control by reducing inflammation.