Ramadan

Ramadan - The month of blessings has arrived. We are all very lucky to have gotten yet another chance of enjoying the showers of Allah’s blessings upon us, have our bad deeds forgiven, praying and fasting to our best with a desire in our hearts of pleasing Allah SWT. May we gain the most out of this month (Ameen).

On a practical side however, as soon as the Ramadan starts everybody faces huge changes in their routines. Fasting all day for a month is not as easy specially in such hot weather thus we need to be careful of our eating habits so that we do not end up getting dehydrated, sick or gaining wait. Hence, this blog is about what and how should you eat to keep your body healthy during the month of Ramadan.

After fasting all day its natural to want to treat yourself but one must keep the intake of fatty and sugary foods and drinks low. When breaking the fast start with adequate fluids, low fat, fluid rich food with natural sugars avoiding sugar added food and fluids. Water, milk, juices, smoothies, etc. help your body rehydrate. Breaking fast with Dates is Sunnah as well as a healthy way as it provides you with natural sugar, potassium, copper, etc. Using other dry fruits like apricots, raisins is also a good idea. Eat seasonal fresh fruits as they provide us with natural sugars, vitamins, etc. Traditional in some Arab countries is to break fast with soups as it’s a light way and provides the body with fluids.

There’s a short time between Iftar and Suhoor thus one must consume enough fluids and foods to rehydrate one’s body and provides it with all the essential nutrients that it consumed all day.

In Sehri one must drink plenty of fluids, choose high fiber, wholegrain, starchy food. Eating oats, high fibre breakfast cereals, starchy food like rice and couscous, Yogurt, bread (especially wholegrain), etc. will keep you hydrated and provide you more energy for the long fast.