Background and aim: Lifestyle is a key determinant of various dimensions of health, and chronic diseases are closely associated with unhealthy behavioral patterns. Islamic lifestyle teachings, emphasizing moderation, biological order, and personal hygiene, possess a high capacity for health promotion. This review article aims to analyze and scientifically explain Islamic lifestyle teachings and the physiological mechanisms underlying the promotion of the four dimensions of health (physical, mental, social, and spiritual) based on modern scientific evidence.
Materials and methods: This study is a structured analytical review conducted through a systematic search of authoritative religious sources and the PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, and ISC databases. The English search keywords included Islamic Lifestyle, Physiological Mechanisms, Lifestyle Medicine, Health Dimensions, and Health Promotion, while the Persian search keywords included Islamic lifestyle, physiological mechanisms, lifestyle-based medicine, and health dimensions and promotion. The source selection process was carried out in three stages: screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts. In the initial search, 185 titles were identified; after the removal of duplicates and irrelevant items, 71 sources—including scientific articles and religious texts—were included in the study for final analysis.
Findings: Analysis of the evidence indicated that Islamic lifestyle teachings affect health not as isolated behaviors, but as a cohesive pattern aligned with lifestyle medicine by modulating physiological mechanisms. This comprehensive pattern plays a significant role in maintaining body homeostasis and preventing chronic diseases by regulating neuroendocrine systems (particularly the HPA axis), modulating inflammatory responses, improving autonomic balance, and stabilizing biological rhythms.
Conclusion: Islamic lifestyle is a comprehensive model aligned with lifestyle medicine that, by regulating adaptation responses, plays an effective role in preventing chronic diseases and promoting the four dimensions of health. To further elucidate biological pathways and develop evidence-based interventions, interdisciplinary research in this field is essential. |
