Dates - essential nutrients to sustain yourself while fasting
Muslims view the fasting month of Ramadan with much sanctity and honor. The fasting month brings about a personal reflection of where we are, what we have done and where we hope to go. Many Muslims feel a heightened sense of excitement as well as anxiety. In this state of excitement, we try our best to welcome in the fasting month with as much preparation as possible. However, at times, we tend to forget the little things. Here are some practical tips to fasting during this blessed month.
Firstly, there's the pre-Ramadan preparation. Reduce your caffeine habit, preferably a few days before you start fasting so you don't crave your cup of java during the day. Try to do the optional fasts on Monday and Thursdays (or any day that suits your lifestyle). This will help you get into the Ramadan vibe. Overall, start eating less, especially during the daytime. Or you could have an early morning breakfast and eat lightly during the day then have a full meal at dinner time.
Next, during Ramadan, it is important to make a serious conviction to follow the Ramadan routine. Wake up before dawn, have the pre-dawn breakfast (suhoor) and perform the dawn prayers (fajr). This routine must be ingrained in your mind, body and soul. It is common to have a boost of faith during the early days of Ramadan. The spiritual energy is vibrant and you feel that it is easy to meet Ramadan head on. Then, we may get weak and lose our conviction. We may get lazy and tell ourselves that we have another 3 weeks or so to get back on track. It is best to stay the course and be moderate.
Reduce sodium in your diet, especially during suhoor. This will help to reduce your urge to drink throughout the day. Extreme foods should be avoided as well. These include super spicy dishes (again to reduce the urge to drink after suhoor), high sugar content (to avoid the 'crash and burn' feeling), fatty foods and anything else that normally disagrees with you. Try to include foods that have high fiber content (for easy digestion) and that are 'filling'. It's important to eat 'complex carbohydrates' as they break down slowly. These include grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour, and unpolished rice. Lots of fruits and vegetables are not only healthy but also provide a good balance to your meals. These will help sustain yourself until you break your fast. If you are already taking multi-vitamin supplements, don't stop. Check with a health advisor if you plan to start a new multi-vitamin supplement. Don't look far to find a vital health supplement. Dates are abundant throughout the year and especially during Ramadan. Dates are known to provide a wide range of essential nutrients and potential health benefits. Another important tip: hydrate! Drink lots of water in the night and before dawn. During suhoor, remember that coffee and tea are known to be diuretics. This could cause you to lose fluids faster.
Don't binge. Having an empty stomach during the day and then gorging yourself at night can cause lethargy and other gastrointestinal discomforts. The last thing you need is a sloth-like behavior at night and then you miss the precious dawn breakfast.
Bonus tip: meet the community. In the Bay Area, there are few mosques that prepare iftar (dinner to break the fast) for singles. The Muslim Community Association and South Bay Islamic Association conduct daily iftar sessions for singles. Many mosques also hold community iftar sessions on weekends. Meeting the community has numerous benefits including hearing about recipe tips, community events and hopefully some iftar invites!
Comments
Thank you for these wonderful reminders.
Great tips! Articles like these really add to the excitement as Ramadan draws nearer.
Great article. Simple yet practical.
Well-written and clear. A concise explanation and great reminder as this blessed month approaches.
Faraz Rabbani
SeekersGuidance (www.SeekersGuidance.org)
This is a very good article, simple yet effective tips to usher us into Ramadan. I hope this author writes more articles for Examiner.com in the future!
This is a beautifully written, clear and concise article. There is indeed a spiritual, mental and physical preparation that gets us "in tune" for Ramadan. This article dealt with all of these aspects and offered easy to follow tips in facilitating that preparation. I'm printing a few copies to put up at the masjid before Jummu'ah tomorrow.
Keep up the great work!!
good stuff
Simple, concise, clear, and practical. May Allah keep you in His care.
Was Salam
Abdullah
Thank you!! For the preping us for the great month.
JazakAllah, thanks for these great tips to prepare for the blessed Ramadhan.
Wonderful reminder of Ramadan and its values! These eminently useful and practical suggestions are good spiritually but also health-wise!
In these days where obesity, and the consequent morbidity associated, a reduced caloric intake that is the consequence of fasting would benefit all.
M. Bakri Musa, M.D.
thanks bro. good tips for ramadan eating habits.
Very beneficial n guide for the people
who only fast in ramadan ..this article enables to prepare themselves earlier.
Great Article. Thanks for writing and thanks to the Examiner for posting it!
Nicely written. Thanks for writing it
Great reminders and advice all can implement in this great month.
Simple Reminders - Great
Insha Allah we be bless in this Ramadan.
As always, sage advice from a far away friend.
I particularly appreciate the advice for increased brotherhood by participation at the iftar - followed by Maghrib prayers, of course - at the Masjid, or simply with friends and family at home.
May your blessings be increased during this most holy month.
Excellent practical advice- thank you!
Afroz Ali
www.alghazzali.org
Complex carbs is the way to go. I remember I used to play football and having Desi food morning and night not only made me hungry faster but gave me ingestion problems and acid relfex. Turning toward complex carbs and different styles of fruit a la fruit chaat without the masala was an amazing way to keep energized. Thank you so much for your amazing advice. In this month of months, we would really like your duas.
Assalaam aleikum
Thank you so much, your tips were wonderful and your advice very helpful.
May Allah bless you.
mashaAllah. Very nice. Short and sweet
A Great Fasting 101 Guide
Enlightening and motivational.
Well said
Beautiful reminders in all its simplicity.
Shukran!
Great helpful tips.... Thank You!
thank you and will subscribe to further posts inshallah.:)
Thank you for the reminder!
Thanks for the beneficial advice & May ALLAH reward you & Su abundantly & make us all worthy to be called MUSLIMS beginning this Ramadan!!
Great article. Short and sweet! How about another one on integrating light exercises into one's ramadan? I never could figure that one out.
Jazak Allah kheir for this.
great information. may allah bless you.
Excellent tips....right on time!
Thanks for the great tips, may ALLAH bless us on this wonderful month.
Masha-Allah, very good article. I hope the advice given will be taken aboard by all Muslims to benefit during this blessed month of ramadhan.
Very informative article mA...may this Mubarak Ramadan bring us all closer to Allah SWT. Ramadan Mubarak!
Thanks for the reminder! Great advice, Now comes time to put it into practice Insha'Allah
ASA. Very sound advice. Thanks.
Jazakallah
that does not help
thanks you the best thanks again
cool that was the best info
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