What Happens to Your Body During a 16-Hour Fast And Why Support Matters
Fasting during Ramadan is a beautiful act of discipline, reflection, and spiritual growth. But while the soul is nourished, the body is also undergoing significant physiological changes, especially when fasting stretches to 16 hours or more.
Understanding what happens inside your body during long fasts can help you support it gently and avoid common discomforts like fatigue, bloating, constipation, and sluggish digestion.
Let’s break it down simply.
How Your Body Responds to Long Fasting Hours
Blood Sugar & Energy Levels Shift
After several hours without food, your body uses stored glucose for energy. Once this runs low, energy levels dip, often leading to fatigue, headaches, and brain fog—especially in the afternoon.
Digestion Slows Down
Long gaps between meals reduce digestive enzyme production. When you break your fast with heavier meals, digestion can feel strained, causing bloating, gas, and heaviness.
Dehydration Increases
With limited fluid intake during fasting hours, many people unintentionally drink less than their body needs between iftar and suhoor. Even mild dehydration can contribute to fatigue, constipation, bloating, and slower digestion.
Fibre Intake Often Drops
Ramadan meals can become richer and more refined, with fewer vegetables, fruits, and whole foods. Lower fiber slows digestion and bowel movements, increasing discomfort and constipation.
The Liver Works Harder After Heavy Evening Meals
The liver plays a key role in processing fats, nutrients, and toxins. Late-night, heavier meals increase its workload, which can lead to sluggish digestion, discomfort, and disrupted sleep.
The Takeaway
Long fasting hours naturally affect:
- Energy production
- Digestion
- Hydration levels
- Fibre intake
- Liver workload
Feeling tired, bloated, constipated, or sluggish isn’t a failure; it’s simply your body adjusting to change.
With the right nourishment and support, you can fast feeling lighter, more energized, and more comfortable throughout Ramadan.
Supporting the Body During Ramadan: The Ramadan Vitality Trio
Fasting is a time of reflection, discipline, and nourishment for both body and soul. As eating patterns shift and long fasting hours place new demands on the body, gentle, targeted nutritional support can make a meaningful difference.
At Organic Instinct, the Ramadan Vitality Trio has been thoughtfully curated using trusted formulas from Herbs of Gold to support energy levels, digestion, and liver function throughout the fasting month.
This supportive trio includes:
Ginseng 4 Energy Gold
Formulated to support natural energy production and help reduce feelings of fatigue during long fasting days, supporting focus and stamina without harsh stimulants.
Digest Zymes
A comprehensive digestive enzyme blend designed to assist in breaking down food more efficiently, helping to reduce bloating, heaviness, and digestive discomfort after iftar and suhoor.
Liver Care
Traditionally used to support healthy liver function and the body’s natural detoxification pathways, particularly helpful when meals are heavier or eaten later in the evening.
Together, this trio is designed to help the body adapt to fasting with greater balance, comfort, and vitality, supporting digestion, energy, and detox processes while honoring the body’s natural rhythms during Ramadan.
