By Zahra Osman

Ramadan is right here and we’re all excited. A few of you might be excited as a result of you may’t watch for the seasonal Ramadan dishes. A few of you might be excited as a result of Ramadan generally is a kickstart on your weight reduction regime. And a few of you might be excited just because its Ramadan. You’re anticipating the rewards and advantages that come together with the challenges of this blessed month. Hopefully, most of you fall into the third class! However even should you’re on this third group, it’s attainable that your consuming habits within the nights of Ramadan are harming your efficiency all through the whole month.

Ramadan is sort of a marathon; not consuming throughout the race is the simple half. It's the different elements like focus, self-discipline, and strategizing your time and vitality that assist you win the race. And through coaching, what you eat and the way you eat could make the race tougher or it will probably put you forward of the competitors. In different phrases, your post-iftar consuming habits can both assist you benefit from Ramadan or it will probably result in the laziness and sicknesses that forestall too many individuals from maximizing the potential rewards that await them. There are individuals who get so sick throughout Ramadan due to their consuming decisions that the physician truly orders them to cease fasting! Now, should you don’t need that occuring to you, then pay shut consideration to those frequent practices which might be slicing into our Ramadan efficiency energy.

1. Breaking your quick with greasy meals

Somosas, springrolls, pakora, fried dumplings, fried rooster, french fries, wings, and many others. The iftar meal is hardly lacking one in all these snacks. I do know, they appear to style so a lot better throughout Ramadan, however you’re doing an enormous disservice to your digestive system while you break your quick with such objects. Consuming greasy meals on an empty abdomen can result in indigestion, which is accountable for the abdomen cramping and bloating that makes you wish to skip out on taraweeh. It’s additionally extraordinarily counter-productive to your well being and health targets.

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To be sincere, you’re not fully guilty for craving these meals at iftar time. Researchers utilizing practical MRI mind scans discovered that, on an empty abdomen, the physique focuses on feeding itself high-calorie meals to attempt to get blood sugar ranges again to regular. Because of this, while you’re hungry, you’re virtually keen to eat something, particularly fatty meals.

So what ought to I do?

Comply with the sunnah. “The Prophet used to interrupt his quick with contemporary dates earlier than he prayed. If he didn't discover contemporary dates then he would use dried dates. If he didn't discover that additionally he drank a number of sips of water”. [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]. Dates are extraordinarily efficient in elevating blood sugars rapidly as a result of they’re simply and rapidly absorbed. It is a a lot more healthy different than turning to fatty meals to normalize blood sugar.

Eat fruits. If you eat fruits on an empty abdomen it does a a lot better job at detoxifying your system and supplying you with tons of vitality, than should you have been to eat it after your meal. Its a win-win scenario since you get the well being advantages of the fruits and also you’re nicely fuelled for the night time of ibaadah forward.

I can’t let you know to fully abandon the samosas, so should you can’t resist, then eat moderately and restrict the quantity. A minimum of this manner you received’t put a lot strain in your digestive system. Or chances are you'll wish to think about baking them like I do.

2. Consuming too rapidly

I do know, it's essential catch the salaah. However decelerate. Chew. Sit and revel in. Your mind wants about 15-20 minutes earlier than it indicators to your abdomen that you just’re full. Which means should you’re consuming sooner than your mind can sign, you may find yourself consuming much more than you want . One Japanese research discovered that consuming too rapidly was strongly related to being chubby. Additionally, I don’t should let you know concerning the discomfort that comes with overeatting. Productive Muslim has a incredible cartoon detailing that.

So What Ought to I do?

Converse when you eat. I don’t imply to speak together with your mouthful, however chat with your loved ones members and people on the desk with you. Conversing will assist decelerate your tempo of consuming, which ought to provide you with extra time to chew as you hear, and breaks between bites as you converse. The Prophet  would converse together with his companions whereas he ate. For instance, the ahaadith, “Point out the identify of Allah and eat from that which is closest to you” and  “What a very good condiment vinegar is” and plenty of extra have been mentioned by the Prophet throughout a meal.

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Additionally, from his sunnah is to eat with three fingers. This may assist you take smaller portion bites. Or chances are you'll wish to bodily place your fork or spoon down between bites in order that your abdomen has extra time to register the meals coming in.

3. Not ingesting sufficient fluids

A few of us barely drink sufficient water in a traditional day, and with solely a few 6 hour consuming window, it’s not stunning that we could also be getting ready to dehydration. Water is vital brothers and sisters, particularly throughout this month. You’re fasting and it’s sizzling exterior! Not ingesting sufficient fluids can result in dehydration, constipation and different digestive diseases which might make the month of striving a month of medical intervention.

So What Ought to I do?

Easy; drink extra fluids. When you’re not a lot of a water drinker, attempt to have soups and eat fruits with giant water content material. Keep away from sugary drinks and an excessive amount of caffeine as a result of they will inhibit water absorption.

4. Skipping Suhoor

Some individuals skip suhoor as a result of they are saying it makes them hungrier?! And a few individuals simply need that additional little bit of sleep. Its true that consuming suhoor is a sunnah and so one has the selection, however while you skip it, not solely are you lacking out on main rewards, however you’re additionally setting your self up for failure. How? There are tons of research displaying that consuming a wholesome breakfast produces great bodily and psychological advantages which go away you feeling good for a lot of the day.

Additionally, while you skip out on breakfast or suhoor, you might be much less more likely to get the really helpful servings of fibre, nutritional vitamins, and minerals which may very well be essential in serving to you obtain the optimum well being essential for surviving this month of jihad.

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So What Ought to I do?

Easy. Eat suhoor! However don’t make the error of consuming simply something, like leftover pizza and samosas from iftar. Purpose for meals wealthy in fiber and those who give you a very good supply of vitality. You might wish to attempt making ready suhoor earlier than going to mattress in order that not a lot effort is required within the morning. Getting ready upfront additionally turns out to be useful for these days you oversleep.

Ramadan is the month of the Quran, a month for striving to hunt closeness with Allah. However we are able to’t ignore the seasonal expertise and delightful environment it brings together with it, and for a lot of cultures and traditions meals is a part of that have. In some houses, Ramadan would be the solely time the whole household sits collectively for a meal. Additionally iftar events assist deliver individuals collectively who are sometimes too busy throughout the yr to attach. So we are able to’t downplay the position meals performs throughout this blessed season. Nevertheless, we should make the proper decisions in order that we are able to mix pleasure with productiveness!

There's a lot to say and so as to add to this subject of excellent and dangerous consuming habits throughout Ramadan. What are some traditions, habits and meals you eat throughout Ramadan that assist you keep productive? I’d love to listen to a few of your suggestions and solutions on how we are able to enhance our consuming habits for optimum well being and health. Keep in mind that all actions are by intentions. And so, should you intend to regulate your consuming model to be stronger so as to worship Allah higher, then the reward is in that scrumptious meal!

Bio: Zahra Osman is a instructor and is at the moment pursing a masters in training with a concentrate on curriculum and pedagogy. She is keen about empowering Muslims to be excessive achievers and constructing confidence of their Islamic identities. She maintains a weblog at www.ummempowered.com, a private improvement platform devoted to inspiring and motivating Muslim mothers to comprehend their full potential.