Chaitra Navratri, also known as Ram Navratri, is celebrated in India during the Chaitra month, which corresponds with the spring season. While Navratri, celebrated during the autumn months, is centred on Goddess Durga, Chaitra Navratri is observed in the honour of Lord Rama. Click here to get all the facts on Chaitra Navratri: important dates, muhurat and significance. But like during Navratri, devotees observe a fast as a sign of their reverence for the deity Lord Rama. Those dismissing fasting as an illogical religious custom should know that fasting has a lot of amazing health benefits that are science-backed. So irrespective of whether you are religious or not, here are some great reasons why you should fast for good health this Chaitra Navratri.

Fasting can slow down ageing

In India, women are known to fast for their husbands’ long life. While we don’t have evidence to support that, fasting may help in increasing the lifespan of those observing it. Studies conducted on animals have proven that observing intermittent fasting helped in extending the lifespan of lab rats.

Fasting can reduce cholesterol

If you suffer from cholesterol, occasional fasting can help in lowering triglyceride levels in the blood. Excessive cholesterol can increase your risk of heart diseases. That’s why it’s good to fast intermittently because it specifically targets the bad cholesterol without affecting the good cholesterol levels.

Fasting enhances Human Growth Hormone secretion

Human growth hormone or HGR is produced and secreted by the pituitary glands of the human body. It plays an important role in cell regeneration and maintenance health of your internal organs and tissues. It also helps in muscle building and strengthening bones. Studies suggest that fasting helps in triggering this important hormone.

Fasting reduces inflammation

Inflammation is a sign that something has gone awry in your body. It’s a physical response to factors like stress, bad diet and bad lifestyle. It triggers many health problems and accelerates ageing. Science says that fasting can be a deterrent for inflammation, reducing oxidative damage, early ageing and chronic diseases.

Fasting repairs cells

Short-term fasting can act as avacuum cleaner, ridding your cells of waste materials. Studies show that fasting causes the body to go on a repair mode, triggering a cellular repair process. That’s why going on a fast can act as an internal cleansing system for your whole body.

Fasting helps you lose weight

If you are struggling with weight loss, fasting every once in a while will give you a helping hand in shedding some of those stubborn pounds. Studies say that alternate day fasting helps in torching body fat by roughly 12 pounds. But if fasting alternate days is too extreme for you, intermittent fasting can also help you lose weight. Fasting also reduces your hunger pangs by curbing your hunger hormone ghrelin.

Fasting is more than just an ancient religious mumbo-jumbo  handed down from generation-to-generation. It's proof of our ancestors' wisdom who knew the many health benefits of fasting, all of which have been backed by science today.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 16, 2018 06:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).