Fasting has saved my life: former eczema sufferer

Poh Siok Khoon, ex-general manager of Our Place International

Poh Siok Khoon, 48, used to suffer from severe eczema that left her hands and feet sore. Doing things like wearing her slippers and playing the piano were excruciatingly painful for her.

Desperate to find a cure for the disease, the former general manager of a health lifestyle organisation sought help from a dermatologist.

When that failed to improve her condition, she decided to fly to Hong Kong to consult a famous sinseh, or traditional Chinese physician. Using traditional Chinese medicine helped ease her pain to an extent, but Poh was determined to find a cure for her eczema.

In 2000, Poh turned to a practice that is commonly associated with believers of Islam and other religions: fasting. It was to transform her life - within two weeks of fasting, her eczema subsided significantly.

“Fasting saved my life and I apply the principles of fasting in my daily life. I have overcome eczema, stomach flu and other health issues, and I am thankful for the general good health for the last 16 years,” Poh said. She is among a group of Singaporeans interviewed by Yahoo Singapore who fast primarily for health reasons.

P V Anthony, 49, began fasting three years ago to manage his weight, and the benefits began to show in a short span of time.

Within the first two weeks of fasting, Anthony lost two kilograms, and by the third month, he saw a significant reduction in his cholesterol and sugar levels. With his improved physical health, the IT systems administrator has become a more confident person.

“Fasting makes it easier for me to see clearly what I really want to do in my life. It has helped me feel more positive and excited about life,” said Anthony.

P V Anthony, an IT systems administrator

While Poh and Anthony continue to fast today for better health, Singaporean Muslims have been fasting since the start of Ramadan on 6 June to observe one of the five pillars of Islam. They join other Muslims around the world to abstain from consuming food and drinks, smoking and engaging in sexual activity from sunrise to sunset during the holy month.

For certain Christian denominations, fasting is also observed around holy days, such as Easter Sunday and the Christmas season.

Studies on the benefits of fasting

Recent studies conducted by the University of Southern California and others have shown that fasting can bring various benefits to a person’s health, including improved immune systems, lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol level and better cognitive functions.

Mark Mattson, a neuroscientist at the Johns Hopkins University, has conducted studies that showed fasting twice a week could significantly lower the risks of getting Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

For people who fast for health reasons, they typically abstain from food and consume only water or juices, and increase their fasting frequency and period once they get used to the practice.

Christina Hardie, a holistic chef, said she does intermittent fasting for at least two to three days a week, and between 12 and 20 hours each time. Anthony said that when he started fasting, he did so for two days a week, before stepping it up to three days a week.

Christina Hardie, holistic chef

Poh, who is currently taking a break from work, said she once fasted for 21 consecutive days and drank only water throughout the period. Every week, she fasts for one day, three days or five days.

Not just about health benefits

For people who have never abstained from food for long hours before they take up fasting, getting used to it in the initial stage can be challenging.

When Karen Jhala, 49, first started fasting two years ago, she said that she experienced headaches during the first few days.

But by the second month, the administrative manager was accustomed to fasting and began to see improvement in her glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

With better health, the Singaporeans who were interviewed said that they have seen an improvement in other aspects of their lives such as work.

Anthony said, “Because I work in IT, people will always troubleshoot problems to me. I realised that when I fast, the answers come to me faster. I’m more alert.”

After four years of fasting, 48-year-old Hardie said that not only has her health improved significantly, she has been getting compliments regularly about her appearance.

“I think fasting has helped reduce ageing in many ways. No one thinks I look the age I am,” she said.