Stay Energized And Healthy With These Expert Fasting Tips
The holy month of Ramadan is a special month of the year for Muslims
around the world. This is a time when Muslims connect more deeply with
their religion, reflect on themselves, and give back to their community.
Ramadan provides the reward of self-growth and the opportunity to learn
more about our religion and ourselves. These spiritual rewards require
hard work and dedication to praying, a commitment to charity, and
willpower when fasting.
Fasting during Ramadan involves not eating food or drinking water between sunrise and sunset for the entire month.
The month often begins with an optimistic energy, and practitioners may set many spiritual goals. However, it can be easy to falter as you try to maintain your health while fasting and balancing your regular day-to-day responsibilities.
Here are some tips to support a safe, successful fast during Ramadan.
Don’t skip your morning meal
There are only two opportunities to eat during Ramadan: in the early morning before sunrise (Suhoor) and after sunset in the evening (Iftar). The morning meal can be easy to skip, as it’s difficult to have an appetite so early in the morning. However, it's extremely important that you don't skip your meal. Skipping your meal will affect your energy throughout the day.
Hydration
Drinking water is vitally important and has many health benefits. Not drinking enough water can result in poor mood and increased tiredness. This can affect energy levels and memory.
Read Also: How To Avoid Mouth Odour During Ramadan
Be conscious of portions
Traditional foods are very important for Muslims, especially during Ramadan.
I always try to be mindful of portions, as my traditional foods can be very heavy and soup/stew served with it are very oily. Even though it tastes amazing, I feel exhausted and tired the next day if I overdo it.
Ramadan isn’t a one-day event, it’s a month-long event. So be mindful of what you eat.
Understand your health
Having a chronic medical condition doesn’t mean that you aren’t able to fast. It does mean that it’s essential to plan ahead and make the necessary adjustments, though.
Wasem Alsabbagh, BScPharm, PhD, a licensed clinical pharmacist and assistant professor at the University of Waterloo, explains that most medications can and should be continued while fasting.
However, the time you take them should be adjusted to fit the fasting schedule of the evening meal and morning meal.
After Ramadan is over, it can be difficult to resume regular eating habits. Your body may have become accustomed to not eating for long periods of time during the day and having a heavier meal in the evening.
If you find yourself in this situation, ensure that you hydrate throughout the day.
If you find yourself leaning towards snacking, consider setting consistent mealtimes instead.
Ramadan is a time for celebration and spiritual growth. It’s also a challenging time as Muslims undertake the trial of fasting for the month.
Use above tips to stay healthy while fasting and enjoying foods during/after Ramadan.
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