A Day’s Journey

Morocco – April 2022

I’m here in April 2022 in Morocco. Exploring cityscapes, crowded medinas, and countrysides. Energizing and tantalizing sights, smells, tastes, and sounds. A trip made even more special during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

When we define the words “Rush” and “Fast,” we think that the two can be used interchangeably. As I delve into the health of the Moroccan population during Ramadan, I find that the two words couldn’t be any more opposite.

Let’s begin with “Fast,” a word used for centuries in association with Ramadan. Ramadan occurs every new moon in the 9th month in the Muslim calendar, and lasts roughly 28-30 days til the next new moon. It is during this month(about day 26 or 27) that God revealed the Quaran to Prophet Mohammed. In the Quaran, Islam follows five pillars – the declaration of faith (shahada), prayer (salah), alms-giving (zakat), fasting (sawm) and pilgrimage (hajj). Focusing on the pillar of sawn or fasting, Muslims fast during daylight hours from food, water, alcohol, sex, cursing, and any other vices or worldly pleasures in the hope of empathizing with others less fortunate, gaining a deeper connection with Allah, and better focusing on Islamic practice.

Traveling during Ramadan was very special, and also changed my own patterns of eating. You will not find many restaurants open during the day, as locals will not be eating and tourists are in few numbers. I experienced the city sirens and drums announcing the sunset every night between 7:00-7:10 pm depending on the day and latitude. The streets went from bustling to silence within a matter of minutes as locals resumed eating (iftar) and continued their prayers (Muslims pray five times a day towards Mecca). Restaurants slowly began opening in the nighttime, and I adjusted to my new dinner time – past 8pm – so that locals could get their food and orders in first.

Apart from being a beautiful religious practice, fasting has many health benefits. Fasting gives the digestive system a “rest break,” allowing the body to divert its energy from digestion to cellular repair. Countless studies have confirmed the benefits of fasting and established links with life-prolonging longevity. We fast every night when we sleep- 8 hours is enough for our blood sugar to fall and cease insulin production. Giving yourself 12 hours of fasting would be the equivalent of no late night snacks and slightly later breakfast, and further enhances your benefits. At 12 hours, the body healing process truly begins as all food should be digested allowing that system to break. Human growth hormone begins to increase its production, which is a hormone critical in building and repairing body tissue- thus improving our longevity. Another two hours this further increases and body begins to change its energy use to fat store. Past 18 hours is when these two processes skyrocket, along with the beginnings of autophagy- the body’s cellular repair.

In late April in Morocco, Muslims are seeing about 13-14 hours of daylight, therefore reaping the benefits aforementioned. Some people I met only eat a large dinner, therefore likely experiencing the beginnings of autophagy. Reports from Moroccans note feelings of clarity, weight loss, and general “clean” feelings in their body and digestive system. However, important to note how hard this process is, especially since water is not being drank in a hot and dry climate.

So what’s the rush? I’m talking about a sugar rush. Unfortunately, Morocco is a country spoiled by a negative consequence of European colonialism… sugar and highly processed foods. Traditional Moroccan and Berber foods consist of locally roasted vegetables and meats in a sizzling tagine, fresh citrus fruits, olive oil, homemade breads, and couscous. However, French influence is ever-present in the form of sugary breads, croissants, cakes, cookies. Small street markets selling highly processed foods for prices that undermine the healthy traditional foods. Convenience placed first in a hardworking culture. This scenario is present in some part of almost every country in present day. However I was interested to learn the role of dentists in this country. Multiple sources informed me that dentistry can be a lucrative profession as the sugar rots away the teeth of the population. Some individuals opting to just ride the wave to the ultimate denture destiny. In a quarter of Fés we came across a dentist “practice.” Emphasis on practice- as these “dentists” are not formally educated in dentistry but rather work as dentist apprentices and learn through practice. Moroccans can save some money going to these so called dentists… but at what long term cost?

Sugar is exhausting mentally and physically. A quick sugar rush leading to a sugar crash in energy. Sugar causes increase inflammation and insulin resistance in the body, which is the polar opposite of the decrease that comes with fasting and autophagy.

Fast. Rush. Two seemingly interchangeable words, two completely different health affects in a single population. Here I learned the incredible spiritual, mental, physical benefits of fasting and the opposite deadly and degrading consequences of constant sugar influx. What path will you ultimately choose?