Tips on how you can cope with Ramadan Fasting

First of all, what is Ramadan and how does fasting works?

Ramadan is the Muslim holy month and during the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast every single day from dawn to sunset – a time of spiritual discipline and more. This year, it falls on 2 April, Saturday and will last till 2 May, Monday.

Fasting in the course of Ramadan can cause excessive dehydration as food and drink are constrained to before sunrise and after sunset, as well as sleep deprivation because fasting individuals are advised to wake up earlier in the morning to have their Suhoor (pre-dawn meal). Sleep deprivation and dehydration can result in headaches, so how should we fast in a healthy way?

1) Try not to skip Suhoor (pre-dawn meal)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it is extremely vital during Ramadan. Skipping Suhoor would mean that your body will be forced to rely upon the previous meal to give you all the energy and nutrients to survive till you break fast. This can be distressing because you are much more likely to experience dehydration and tired during the day. Also, this can cause you to overeat during Iftar (break fast), which will lead to unhealthy weight gain.

2) Strive to eat a balanced and nutritious meal during Iftar (break fast)

 Do not overeat because immoderate intake of excessive-fats meals may bring about indigestion and weight gain – this is very detrimental to your body. You should eat everything in moderation, make sure to slow down and enjoy your food.

3) Avoid eating food that are high in salt and sugar, as well as fried food

Although you should reward yourself after a long day of fasting, you should not over-indulge yourself with rich, fried, greasy and sugary food. Because by doing that, it will make fasting the next day more difficult. Other than getting an unhealthy weight gain, these foods can also make you feel fatigue and sluggishness too. Therefore, try to limit your salt intake especially in the course of Suhoor, as this will make you feel thirstier throughout the day.

4) Make sure you drink lots of water between Iftar and Suhoor

Keeping yourself hydrated during the interval period can reduce the risk of you being dehydrated during fasting. Thus, try having at least 8 cups of water every day before dawn and after sundown. Ideally, you should reduce the number of caffeinated drinks like teas, coffees as these will cause a diuretic effect and increase fluid loss.

Always remember, the key to healthy fasting during Ramadan is a well-balanced diet. Now that you know these tips, share it with your friends and family! For more lifestyle-based content, you may head over to our website – https://www.healthspringsgroup.com.sg/blog/