Among numerous other spiritual and moral benefits, it helps a person develop self-control. The Holy Qoran clearly states: ``O ye who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may learn self-refrain.'' By self-control we mean that man's conscience exercises blanket control on his body and its energies as well as various desires. If the demands of the human body and psyche are analysed, it will be inferred that three are pivotal: the demand for food, the carnal desire and the longing for relaxation.

Fasting encompasses these three demands and trains the self to control them, since during the holy month dining, drinkingand carnal desires are severely restricted. Allah commands: ``We shall test with a bit of fear and hunger....'' During fasting, a true Muslim is not with himself; he undergoes the rigors of thirst and hunger, yet he regards it a sin to eat or drink or have sex. This cleanses a believer of the capacity for evil and restores his dignity and integrity.

From the religious point of view, fasting in Islam instils in man the real spirit of ``social belonging'', of ``unity and brotherhood'', of ``equality'' before God as well as before law. When a person fasts, he feels he is joining the whole Muslim community in observing the same duty, in the same manner, at the same time, for the same motive, to meet the same end.

Fasting also has immense benefits from a medical point of view. It is often observed that to keep healthy, one must always remain a little hungry. Though fasting lowers the body's metabolism rate, research has shown that during long periods of fasting, the body itself adjusts the metabolism rate. Infact, fasting even reduces the risk of heart attack and high blood pressure. Moreover, the body's important processes are not hampered during fasting. Studies have indicated that it does not alter the male reproductive hormones and that short-term fasts do not affect the female menstrual cycle.

A recent study on ``increased fat oxidation during Ramadan fasting in healthy women: an adaptive mechanism for body weight maintenance'' conducted on Tunisian women discussed the possible effects of fasting on anthropometic and metabolic variables. It showed that neither body weight nor body composition was affected by the Ramadan fasting.

Fasting also benefits those suffering from cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, asthma, digestive disorders, skin problems, etc. It may enhance mucosa deprived B lymphocyte cell responsiveness while having no bearing on B cell responsiveness in both rheumatoid arthritis patients. According to one scientific theory, death can be attributed to the thickening of blood and theformation of clots in the arteries -- this is medically referred to as athorma. It has been found that the process of athorma, which starts as we grow older, slows down with fasting observed consistently over a long period. Research on laboratory animals indicates that restricted calorie intake increases longevity. It has also been found that fasting has no effect on milk volume, milk glucose concentration, total fat content or lactose secretion rate; therefore, breast-feeding women are free from any kind of adverse repercussions.

Hence, as devout Muslims observe the hold month of Ramadan, it can safely be said that any apprehensions that it takes a toll on one's health are totally unfounded. So much so that Ramadan can be described as an ideal month-long training camp.