Science Shows Fasting is Good for Africans

Fasting means staying without food for some hours or days. It is a natural way to keep the body healthy.

Research shows that eating only between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. helps the body burn fat, control sugar, and lower the risk of diabetes. It also improves heart health by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol.

Fasting gives the stomach rest and helps the body repair itself. During fasting, new cells eat old and weak cells, removing what the body does not need and protecting against sickness. A Japanese doctor won the Nobel Prize for this discovery.

In Africa, many people already fast during religious times, making it cultural, spiritual, and healthy. Doctors advise starting with simple fasting, like eating within 8–10 hours daily. People with long-term sickness should be careful.

Fasting is a low-cost way to improve health and prevent disease—wisdom our elders lived by.

Sources:  The BMJ, June 2025 (systematic review on cardiometabolic outcomes), Business Standard, August 2025 (potential heart risks with very short eating windows) Business Standard