Staying healthy while fasting

Staying healthy while fasting

Keep your strength up and your weight down with our helpful hints to a
healthy Ramadhan.

Tip 1
Eat slow-digesting foods
This is particularly helpful at suhoor time when eating a high-fibre
meal of oats or wheat cereal could carry on giving you energy for up to
eight hours.
Cook meals using slow-digesting foods such as barley, wheat, oats,
millet, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour, unpolished rice, etc.
(complex carbohydrates).

Tip 2
Fill up on fibre
Foods that are high in fibre are also great for energy levels. In
addition, they can help prevent constipation and painful piles. High fibre
foods include whole wheat, grains and seeds, vegetables like green
beans, peas, marrow, corn,
spinach, fruit with skin and dried fruit like dried apricots, figs and
prunes.

Tip 3
Keep it balanced
Eat a well-balanced diet, containing foods from each food group:
fruits, vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products
including cheese and yoghurt. Don't be tempted to binge on junk food or
sugary snacks.

Tip 4
Avoid the deep fat fryer
Cut down on the amount of fried food you eat and avoid fatty foods as
much as possible. Try stir-frying, grilling or steaming your food
instead of drowning it in oil. You will appreciate the fresher taste and your
heart and waistline will thank you for it.



Tip 5
Fruit for iftar
Instead of serving deep-fried samosas and pakoras at iftar time, try
fruit kebabs with a tasty yoghurt dip or vegetable  with humus
or salsa. They are healthier, taste great, and make it easy to get your
five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Dates, oranges and bananas
work particularly well together after a day of fasting.

Tip 6
Re-hydrate yourself
Drink as much water as possible between iftar and bedtime to ensure you
replenish your body's fluid levels. You can also drink fruit juice.
Remember that a glass of pure juice counts as one of your five daily
portions  but cola doesn't!

Insha Allah, these ideas will help see you through the month in health,
happiness and more than enough energy for ibaadah, may Allah SWT
accept it from us all, ameen.